Film Review: Into the Blue (2005)
The formula behind a Hollywood blockbuster can be astonishingly simple, even to the untrained eye. In the case of Into the Blue, the 2005 adventure thriller directed by John Stockwell, the entire film is nothing more than an opportunity to pair two young, up-and-coming stars and use the plot as an excuse to showcase their attractive physical appearances for as much of the runtime as possible.
Set in the picturesque Bahamas, the story follows Jared (played by Paul Walker), a young man with a passion for scuba diving, as he struggles to make ends meet by taking on odd jobs while his girlfriend, Sam (played by Jessica Alba), works as a tourist guide. Jared dreams of improving his situation by discovering the wrecks of old pirate ships rumoured to be filled with treasure. When Jared's old friend Bryce (played by Scott Caan), a New York lawyer, arrives with his girlfriend Amanda (played by Ashley Scott), the four of them decide to embark on a treasure hunt. Along the way, they stumble upon the wreckage of an old French ship, the Zephyr, as well as a modern-day plane carrying a large shipment of cocaine. Lacking the funds and equipment to properly salvage the Zephyr, Bryce suggests they solve their problem by selling the cocaine. This decision ultimately puts their lives in grave danger.
Despite the presence of attractive leads Paul Walker and Jessica Alba, Into the Blue failed to find success after its premiere. While the film does benefit from their on-screen presence, as well as the natural beauty of the Bahamas and some decent underwater cinematography, it suffers from a lack of depth in almost every other aspect. The characters are one-dimensional, the dialogue is abysmal, and the plot twists are predictable. Furthermore, the film's exploitative potential is limited by its PG-13 rating. Walker and Alba do their best with the material they're given, but their talents are ultimately wasted. The same can be said for the supporting cast, which includes Scott Caan and Ashley Scott, as well as James Frain and Josh Brolin, the latter playing forgettable villains.
When compared to the 1977 film The Deep, Into the Blue looks even more lacklustre. Not only do the two films share a similar setting, but they also share an almost identical plot. This has led many older cinephiles to believe that Into the Blue was something of a remake, which only serves to further highlight the shortcomings of the newer film. While the original The Deep benefitted from the direction of Peter Yates, a catchy musical score by John Barry, and a memorable performance by Jacqueline Bisset, Into the Blue lacks these essential elements. In fact, Bisset's iconic wet T-shirt scene from The Deep manages to leave a more lasting impression than Jessica Alba's numerous bikini-clad moments in Into the Blue.
Ultimately, Into the Blue became a flop, and in 2009, it received a direct-to-video sequel titled Into the Blue 2: The Reef. In the end, Into the Blue stands as a prime example of a Hollywood blockbuster that relied too heavily on superficiality and not enough on substance, leaving viewers with a shallow and forgettable experience.
RATING: 3/10 (+)
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