Andromeda Strain
Watched the four-hour “Andromeda Strain” remake on A&E last night. It was somewhat difficult to believe Eric McCormack as a hard-bitten by-his-own-rules reporter, but I think that had less to do with “Will & Grace” as it did with the stupidity of the character stereotype overall. Other than that, it was a workmanlike, at times mildly entertaining shaggy dog story, as pretty much all “the world is ending and only X can save it” movies are. Because let’s face it, if Demi Moore is the last best hope for humanity, we might as well pack it in right now.
Even at four hours, the script doesn’t do anything with the interesting bits scattered throughout, like making Rick “Ricky” Schroeder into a closeted gay Army Major, or casting the movie President as a young, telegenic guy with an equally young, telegenic wife and daughter. So you’re left with the cast of people we don’t know who die horribly, and the cast of middling stars impersonating the “last best hope” scientists.
My recommendation? Rent “The Core.” Seriously.