EdenFormula

The Eden Formula (2006)

Recently I was able to pick a stack of DVDs up for 25 cents a piece (video store was closing) and there was a ton of garbage in that stack. But of all the movies that I picked up (some of which have actually been pretty good) this was the one that I had the most hope for. It is directed by John Carl Buechler, who has done some good flicks, and has a decent cast. With Jeff Fahey, Dee Wallace, and Tony Todd all having real roles and not just cameos I thought this would at least be worth a few laughs. I was wrong.

The movie has a brilliant scientist named Parker, (Fahey) who also just happens to be a former Special Forces soldier, inventing the Eden Formula. It does some genetic thing that allows the company to grow a T-Rex in the basement of the lab. One night Parker is working late with the company’s PR person (played by Stone) when industrial spies break in to steal the Eden Formula. They are lead by a former army colleague (played by Todd) of Parker, who has a score to settle with him. While breaking in they let loose the old T-Rex, who starts to tear up the city… Well not really.

I was so disappointed in this movie. The plot is paper thin and other then the idea of a dinosaur running around really doesn’t have much going for it. They make no effort to explain the dinosaur’s existence or for that matter we never even see a lab! Once the creature gets loose it wanders around the neighborhood for a while then comes back to the lab because of a loud noise? Oh and to make matters even worse when Dee Wallace’s character manages to escape the building in a police car she drives around calling the cops on the radio. She keeps telling them that a dinosaur is running around, but after getting hung up on the first time you would think she would make some thing up to get them to come anyway! It isn’t like there is a team of heavily armed thieves killing her coworkers or anything!

You know if the movie was just poorly written and silly I could deal with it. But to be honest the worst part about The Eden Formula is that it is really boring. If you are going to make a movie without a plot or budget, at least make it so silly that it is fun. Watching this movie is like watching paint dry, only without the fun of breathing the fumes.

I suppose I should talk about the special effects. Have you seen any of the Carnosaur movies? Because I swear to god the effects here are either lifted from those movies or use the same silly puppet. Only difference is those movies were cheesy and fun. This one not so much.

Obviously I can’t recommend The Eden Formula and recommend that everyone take a pass on it.

½ out of 4

reviewed by John Shatzer