The X-FIles: I Want to Believe Review

Posted by James McGee on 07.28.2008

Some cases shouldn't be reopened...

David Duchovny—Fox Mulder
Gillian Anderson—Dana Scully
Amanda Peet—ASAC Dakota Whitney
Billy Connolly—Father Joseph Crissman
Alvin ‘Xzibit’ Joiner—Agent Mosley Drummy

Directed by Chris Carter
Written by Frank Spotnitz and Chris Carter
Runtime: 105 minutes
Rated PG-13 for violent and disturbing content and thematic material

Sometimes, it’s fun to visit an old friend. You can relive “the old days,” recall good memories and have a few laughs. Unfortunately, you usually run out of things to say, and you realize why you haven’t talked to this person in so long. You’ve both moved on, changed, and don’t really have much in common anymore. That’s what The X-Files: I Want to Believe feels like. At first, it’s nice to see Mulder and Scully back together, getting caught up in another harrowing, paranormal adventure. But you quickly realize that this flick is just treading water and trying to recapture the glory days of a pop-culture phenomenon. I Want to Believe is a thoroughly decent movie, and it does nothing to tarnish the show’s legacy. But it also proves that The X-Files have run their course and, unless there’s something strikingly new to add, they should remain closed.

When an FBI agent goes missing, the only clues to her whereabouts come from a former priest who claims to possess psychic powers. Considering the odd circumstances, the bureau seeks out former agent and current outcast Fox Mulder, along with his X-Files partner, Dana Scully. Reluctantly, the old team goes back into action to investigate a bizarre series of events ranging from abduction to severed body parts. But while Mulder slips comfortably back into his old role as the true believer, Scully has no desire to gaze into the darkness once again. Can the two partners work together again before more people die?

Most everything about this new X-Files movie is solid. The plot is engaging, tightly constructed, and perfectly paced. The performances—from returning stars to new characters—are all at the very least competent. I Want to Believe doesn’t break any new ground for either the genre or the series, but then, I doubt the film was really intended to draw in a new audience. It’s essentially just a two-hour episode of the show, which is exactly what fans would want.

The filmmakers chose a self-contained story rather than delving into the show’s deep, convoluted mythology of alien abductions and government conspiracies. On the surface, this approach seems like the wise choice. With the show having been gone for so long, who could be expected to remember all of the complex plot threads that were, admittedly, hard to follow even for weekly viewers? However, this strategy of the extended, stand-alone episode betrays the film’s primary flaw. This could be any generic, supernatural thriller. There is nothing that distinguishes it as an X-Files movie other than the two main characters. Now, you may think that’s all you’d need—Mulder and Scully were the backbone of the show, after all (a fact that became painfully obvious when the team was split up during the final seasons). Unfortunately, the magic just isn’t there anymore. It’s hard to say whether this is due to lack of enthusiasm by the actors, or a misguided attempt by the writers to reflect the passage of time and change in the characters. Whatever the explanation, the trademark chemistry between Mulder and Scully is all but nonexistent.

The new characters, however solid they may be, do nothing to pick up the slack for Duchovny and Anderson. Agents Whitney and Drummy are basically there to provide a few tired, “X-Files for Dummies” moments that, again, are pretty standard for any movie with this subject matter. Observe…

Whitney: We have a psychic priest, we should call in Fox Mulder as an expert.
Drummy: He’s a crack-pot. I don’t believe in all that hooey.
Whitney: He’s the best chance we’ve got.
Mulder: My sister disappeared, so I want to believe in crazy stuff.
Scully: I’m skeptical, Mulder, and I’m getting’ too old for this [bleep].
Mulder: I need you on this one, Scully.

Rinse, repeat, and so on. The whole movie is very paint-by-numbers. I’m always one of the first to advocate “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” and maybe the same old thing is just what X-Files fans have been clamoring for. But this fan would have appreciated a little more effort from everyone involved.

The 411: There’s nothing about I Want to Believe that is out-and-out bad, but there is certainly nothing that stands out, either. The story is good but unspectacular, and the long-awaited return of Mulder and Scully just falls flat. There are a few attempts at their familiar banter, but it all seems like people going through the motions, trying to recapture the show’s atmosphere for the devoted fan-base, and ultimately failing. This movie certainly stirred up my nostalgia for the show, but for all the wrong reasons. If you really want to revisit The X-Files, I suggest simply grabbing a season or two on DVD. I wanted to believe this would be a great bit of fan-service, but the truth is out (there): sometimes you just can’t go back to the way things were.

Final Score:  6.5   [ Average ]