Review of Playing God (1997) by David A — 21 Apr 2010

(from The Watermark, 10/26/97).

Playing God casts David Duchovny as a noble surgeon who has lost his license because of drug abuse. Mobster Timothy Hutton becomes aware of his situation, and pressures Duchovny to work for him and save the lives of injured criminals. Duchovny, badly in need of money to support his habit, acquiesces. Realizing he is up to no good, Duchovny jumps to the other side and goes under cover for the FBI to help catch Hutton, and bag a pretty moll who has caught his eye. And he manages to kick his drug habit, too. The film tries to be a stylish black comedy-thriller, but reeks of being a third rate Tarantino wannabe. The story is flimsy and predictable, and Duchovny and Hutton are both terribly miscast. Duchovny's cool deadpan is much less accessible when he's not surrounded by aliens and spaceships. Hutton's bleach blond bad guy tries to be frightening and crazy, but comes off like a little boy throwing a temper tantrum. For those of you who appreciate Duchovny's sexiness because of his intelligence, you won't find any more skin here than you do on the X-Files. David, baby, you've got a good thing going on TV. Ride that wave as long as you can.