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Review: The Final Destination

Can-we-cheat-death exercise takes a fourth go-round
By TOM MEEK  |  September 2, 2009
1.5 1.5 Stars

 

David R. Ellis, who helmed FinalDestination 2, pretty much reworks the exact same shebang here. FD2 opened with an impressive interstate pile-up; here in FD4 there's flying automobiles and impalings galore as well, but this time it's all at a racetrack.

These are, in every installment, premonitions of death; the inevitable group of haut, nubile twentysomethings, at the behest of an alarmed daydreamer (here a generic Bobby Campo as the prognosticating Nick), try to steer away from Mr. Scratch, only to get offed in some demonic way, like death by movie theater or death by car wash.

On its fourth go-round, the can-we-cheat-death exercise has become flatter than its characters, and the racist redneck, arrogant jock, buxom but shallow soccer mom, and perky, easy-on-the-eyes girlfriends make for a pretty flat cast. You want depth? See it in 3-D.

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ARTICLES BY TOM MEEK
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