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Resident Evil: Extinction

Starring: Milla Jovovich
Director: Russell Mulcahy
Genre: Science Fiction
Year: 2007
Rating: 2 / 5

More than twenty years ago, it appeared that director Russell Mulcahy might have been onto something. For one of his first directorial efforts, he helmed the science fiction classic Highlander, a film so successful that it spawned numerous sequels and a television series. Unfortunately, while these films may have been somewhat commercially viable, they were bereft of artistic merit (with the possible exception of the series), a fact that is also true of the remainder of Mulcahy’s career. Besides “directing” Highlander II: The Quickening, which should be on the short list for any “Worst Film of All-Time” ranking, he is responsible for the Kim Basinger vehicle The Real McCoy and the utterly atrocious Alec Baldwin superhero film – yes, you read that correctly – The Shadow. After setting the bar so low for himself, I must recognize Mulcahy for earning some manner of redemption, however small it might be, for Resident Evil: Extinction.

When Resident Evil was first made into a film in 2002, it was riding the wave of excitement in Hollywood that saw a number of video game franchises turned into feature films. Milla Jovovich, who up until then was known primarily for wearing next-to-nothing in the Bruce Willis flick The Fifth Element, has subsequently made a career out of doing nothing but appearing in Resident Evil films. To her credit – and this surely qualifies as a backhanded compliment – her acting talents are right on par with the material she is given to deliver. Admittedly, we are dealing with a concept best suited to a video game, hence its many highly profitable entries in that arena. As films, however, the results are occasionally visually appealing, but the substance is sorely lacking.

Resident Evil: Extinction picks up after the events of Resident Evil: Apocalypse, with Alice (Jovovich) on the run but still trying to bring down the all-powerful Umbrella Corporation. She travels alone, because she knows the sinister organization is still hunting her, too, as they view her as the potential cure for a worldwide epidemic. Her travels eventually bring her into contact with old friend Carlos (Oded Fehr) and his party’s leader, Claire (Ali Larter). Their band of survivors is looking for a place to call home in a fading world, and Claire offers them hope in the form of a secluded town in Alaska. Unfortunately, she also brings trouble, as the Umbrella Corporation soon locates its prized former asset, and they are not about to let her escape again.

Although I never found myself immersed in the original video games, I can say that I have now seen all three Resident Evil films, and there is not even an average film in the bunch. That being said, based on the direction the second film was headed, I was pleasantly surprised to find that I did not hate the third film. (I admit I am a sucker for post-apocalyptic science fiction.) I approached the film with reduced expectations, and it met them, although I will acknowledge cringing as the closing moments strongly implied that a fourth offering is on the way. After all, we know Milla Jovovich has nothing better to do – an Ultraviolet sequel, anyone? – so I am sure it is only a matter of time. Who knew a video game would have such a long life on the big screen?!

Cast:

Certification: Rated R for violence and nudity.
Running Time: 95 minutes.

Additional Info: Internet Movie Database
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