The One (2001)

James Wong

USA

87 min, color, English

In a plot that has surely come out of the notebook of a first-grader, a rogue "dimension" cop played by Jet Li is skipping across parallel universes, offing copies of himself (thereby distributing their "ENERGY" (tm) across the surviving ones) in a determined effort to become god or destroy the universe, whichever comes first. Needless to say, such blatant disregard for Xerox copies, not to mention aspirations for divinity, are strictly illegal, so two not-so-rogue "dimension" cops are after him. In the end, "there can be only one" (TM, millions go to the Highlander franchise), and the last copy battles it out with the other copy until they are both sucked through to the original world, where they meet their just deserts.

The darned film was so stupid that it was impossible to like it, mostly because it took itself way too seriously. I will not dwell on the number of obvious ridiculous logical problems (every sci-fi film has them), but still my credulity was stretched beyond endurance. Take, for example, the whole premise with the parallel worlds, whose infinite number is apparently 125. Or that the invincible Jet Li (who punches through doors of armored vehicles and can kick down a post) has genuine problems handling one puny not-so-rogue cop. Or why was the bad dude so bad? Why did he have to kill the good dude's wife? (Answer: so we can get the soapy happy ending that leaves even dogs yawning.) To top it off, the fighting sequences weren't that impressive. In fact, Jet Li is at his best when he does his stunts without much wire-work. Everything else makes him look... well, like everyone else.

I have now written with more thought than the script-writers, so I stop. Don't waste your time or my copy in your dimension will come and beat you on the head with Jet Li autographed photos.

November 16, 2001