Review of The Butterfly Effect (2004) by Jiana W — 23 Nov 2011

The film centers on Evan, a promising college guy with memory lapses who discovers (somehow) that reading his old journals allows him to be zapped back into the past where he can alter events that subsequently change the course of his life and those closest to him. This seems like a perfect way to get rid of all the regrets that one has in their life. We all have a few regrets and I doubt anyone would find it hard to sympathize with Evan who wants to be happy and wants everyone he loves to be happy too . But everything he does has two effects: one very positive and one very negative, which overshadows the positivity in the other. If Evan is happy, his friends are sad (or dead, or hurt) for some reason linked back to their childhood together. If his friend is happy with the girl he's loved his whole life, then Evan isn't happy.

Ashton Kutcher wouldn't have been my choice as the lead in a dramatic thriller such as this. He just isn't a guy who I can take seriously. Sorry, Kutcher. The premise though is unique, creative, and intriguing. For its promising plot though, it's got some kinks.

I don't want to give it all away (possible spoilers coming) but how does Evan getting blown back effect his spine? I understood him not having his hands anymore but becoming paralyzed? Why does he continue to stand in front of the mailbox anyway? Once Tommy pushes the mother and her child back, he has ample time to move away before it explodes but he just continues to stand there. Also, exactly what did Evan hope to accomplish by lighting a stick of dynamite and throwing it *towards* someone? There were a few things wrong with that scene: why does Kaylee's father have a stick of dynamite in the first place? What does he do-- in the suburbs, mind you-- that requires him to have one of these in his basement? How does Evan know something like that is there and *why* does he light it and toss it in the direction he knows someone is standing? What was his purpose?

With a good editor (or critique partner perhaps), these nonsensical moments could have been ironed out and a more concise film would have taken its place. For all these faults though, I liked the ending for the theatrical release. It is bittersweet and set to a magnificent song (Oasis' "Stop Crying Your Heart Out"). The director's cut ending is bullcrap. Stick with the original version.