NEXT

THE MOVIE, NEXT, DID NOT SEEM TO BE WELL RECEIVED BY THE CRITICS OR THEATER GOERS, BUT I RENTED IT AND ENJOYED IT A GREAT DEAL.
A MAN IS BORN WITH THE GIFT OR CURSE OF BEING ABLE TO SEE TWO MINUTES INTO THE FUTURE IN STRESSFUL SITUATIONS.TO HIDE THIS GIFT / CURSE, HE BECOMES A MAGICIAN.
HE KNOWS HE WILL BE STUDIED LIKE A LAB ANIMAL IF THE GOVERNMENT KNEW HE COULD SEE AHEAD IN TIME.
BEING INTO MAGIC, MAKES EVERYTHING HE DOES APPEAR AS FAKERY AND KEEPS HIM UNDER THE RADAR. THIS GUY WANTS TO FIND THE RIGHT GIRL AND USES HIS GIFT / CURSE TO LOCATE THAT PERSON, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, HE ACCIDENTALLY GETS INVOLVED IN BOTH A ROBBERY AND A TERRORIST PLOT TO DESTROY LOS ANGELES -- WHY ANYONE WOULD CARE IF L.A. WAS DESTROYED WAS A MYSTERY TO ME, BUT THAT WAS IN THE PLOT.
THEY HAVE SOME VERY NICE SPECIAL EFFECTS AND THE WAY HE USES HIS SKILLS TO DEFEAT BOTH THE POLICE AND TERRORIST, WHO WANT TO CAPTURE HIM, IS VERY CREATIVE.
THEY ALSO STEAL THE BILL MURRAY SCENE FROM GROUNDHOG DAY, WHERE BILL LEARNS ALL ABOUT ANGIE MCDOWELL'S LIKES AND DISLIKES AND THEN SUGGEST THEY HAVE A DRINK / TOAST TO WORLD PEACE.
IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN GROUNDHOG DAY -- PLEASE CORRECT THAT MISSTEP IN YOUR LIFE.
LAST, BUT NOT LEAST -- NICOLAS CAGE, LOOKING PRETTY CLOSE TO COLLECTING SOCIAL SECURITY, IS THE HERO.
JESSICA BIEL IS HIS LOVE INTEREST AND SHE IS WORTH THE PRICE OF ADMISSION - IF THEY HATED THE PLOT, MEN, COULD WATCH HER AND BE HAPPY SEEING THIS PICTURE.
JULIANNE MOORE IS THE TOUGH F.B.I., WHO REALIZES THAT NICOLAS IS MORE THAN A LOW PRICED MAGICIAN. SHE IS VERY GOOD IN THIS SUPPORTING ROLE.

AGAIN, I ENJOYED THIS FILM AND DON'T KNOW WHY IT WAS NOT TREATED KINDLY
BY THE THEATER GOING PUBLIC AND CRITICS.