Despite the fact that it is instantly forgettable, CHAIN REACTION is a fairly decent sci-fi actioneer. The writers deserve to be commended for their original storyline, in which a scientific team discovers a low-cost fuel source reliant only on water. Naturally, evil capitalist forces are out to sabotage the project, and it's up to Eddie Kasalivich (Keanu Reeves in a slightly Bill-and-Ted-like performance) to save the day. The action and thrills are never first-rate, and things drag on a tad too long, but somehow, CHAIN REACTION is better than the sum of its parts. Twentieth Century Fox had high hopes for this $55-million would-be blockbuster, especially after Reeves' success two years earlier with SPEED, but it quickly faded from theaters, so it has a sort of a "forgotten film" appeal.
Review of Chain Reaction
