Ambitious 'Butterfly' a bit cluttered

By Jack Garner
Gannett News Service

Ashton Kutcher plays college student Evan Treborn in the drama "The Butterfly Effect," opening today in theaters. Treborn has the ability to transport himself back in time to alter the disturbing incidents of his youth, but learns a harsh lesson. New Line Cinema 'The Butterfly Effect' R, for violence, sex, nudity, language and drug use 113 minutes

The serious movie Oscar rush and holiday season are behind us, so make way for every junky teen romance, boom-boom action flick or lame-brain sex comedy that wasn't worth a Christmas opening.

Imagine my surprise when Ashton Kutcher — of all people — shows up in an ambitious movie about the ramifications of cause and effect and the regrets of life.

"The Butterfly Effect" is no gem — it's cluttered with too many plot points and implausibilities — but it's way ahead of most movies at this time of year. At least it has aspirations.

The title comes from the famous definition of chaos theory: The flapping of a butterfly's wings in New York's Central Park can result in a typhoon in Indonesia. (Jeff Goldblum familiarized filmgoers with chaos theory in "Jurassic Park.")

Co-directors and writers Eric Bress and J. Mackye Gruber adapted the theory to a dark psychological thriller with stylistic echoes of the films of David Fincher. (They even include a clip from "Seven" for a scene set in a movie theater.)

"The Butterfly Effect" focuses on the emotionally scarred Evan Treborn (Kutcher), a college student who develops the ability to transport himself back in time to alter the disturbing incidents of his youth. And trust me, he's had more disturbing moments in his youth than most of us.

However, Evan learns a harsh lesson: Mess with the time line at your own risk, because righting a wrong can lead to an unexpected and disastrous domino effect. (Veteran Trekkies remember when Captain Kirk had to let the love of his life get run over by a car in "The City on the Edge of Forever," rather than screw up the time continuum.)

Kutcher, who also produced "The Butterfly Effect," deserves credit for attempting a leap from the likes of "That '70s Show" and "Dude, Where's My Car?" to a more substantial drama. He's at least adequate for his role — though he also benefits from the youngsters (John Patrick Amedori and Logan Lerman) who play younger versions of Evan in flashbacks. Some of the strongest emotional stuff is generated when Evan goes through the abuses of his childhood.

Amy Smart is the strongest of the supporting players — and goes through the most transformations. She's the girlfriend of Evan's youth. Her misfortune triggers Evan's attempt to rewrite the past.

Bress and Gruber deserve credit for their audacious theme, but not for its awfully crowded execution. The young Evan goes through so much trauma and the older Evan tries to shift so many incidents that viewers will think they're seeing an entire season of a TV drama, jammed into one two-hour movie. A simpler, less cluttered narrative would have made for a more engrossing and affecting drama.

Jack Garner of The Rochester (N.Y.) Democrat and Chronicle is chief film reviewer for Gannett News Service.