Total Recall

In this updated version of the Arnold Schwarzenneger film from the 1980's Colin Ferrell fills Arnold's shoes as Douglas Quaid, a factory worker who builds robot security guards known as synths. Up until recently he's been pretty content with his life as a factory worker; he loves his job and his wife who is a security force officer for the United Federation of Britain. Earlier in the 21st century the Earth had been devasted by chemical warfare; as a result the majority of the population that is left is split between the United Federation of Britain and a smaller settlement on what used to be Australia known as The Colony. Douglas Quaid goes inbetween these two areas to get to and from work. Recently Quaid has been having strange dreams of being chased by the very machines he helps to build, and then meeting a mysterious woman, only to be separated from her at the end of his dreams. He talks to his wife about the dreams and she suggests that it might be because he feels trapped in their marriage and ultimately his life. He's unconvinced so he (unbeknownst to his wife and close friends) visits a place called Total Rekall. There he is told that he can have the time of his life by being infused with a drug that will allow him to fulfill his wildest dreams. He cautiously goes through with it, but right as he is about to enter the dream world Total Rekall is ambushed by the robotic security force and he must run for his life. What follows is a pursuit of the truth as Quaid tries to separate reality from fiction.

Total Recall is a very unnecessary remake of the '80's classic. I like Colin Ferrell but he fails to completely fill Arnold's shoes as Douglas Quaid. The original isn't much better; it's more of a campy action flick while this updated version tries (and fails miserably) to be serious. I found myself laughing uncontrollably at some of the stupid jokes and situations within Totall Recall. You're better off staying at home and seeing the original version.