'Into the Blue' Takes Dive
Brooke Heald, staff writer

“Into the Blue” is about a group of divers that find a sunken shipwreck and a crashed airplane at the bottom of the Caribbean.

Soaking up the sun in the Bahamas, fortune hunters Jared (Paul Walker) and Sam (Jessica Alba) are living in the poor parts of this magical island, with dreams of a better life.  When Jared’s reckless lawyer friend (Scott Caan) and his prolonged one-night-stand (Ashley Scott) come down for a visit, a routine diving expedition reveals a long lost ship wreck, along with a crashed airplane overflowing with cocaine.

With dollar signs in their eyes to get the equipment they need for bringing up the discovered shipwreck, the foursome start excavating the airplane.  But when the lure of easy money associated with drug dealing proves too complicated, trouble starts to come out from behind every corner, threatening their find and the treasures that lie within. 

Paul Walker has starred in “The Fast and the Furious” and “Joy Ride”, and Jessica Alba has bee seen recently in “Fantastic Four” and “Sin City.” They make the movie flow much better because they are decent actors and fit together nicely.  But I’m not saying that the casting was great.  This film isn’t one of their greatest performances, but I’m not condemning it, either. 

John Stockwell, who directed and produced “Blue Crush” and “Crazy/Beautiful,” also directed this film.  In it’s opening weekend, “Into the Blue” came in fifth at the box office, which isn’t too much of a surprise due to the movie ratings.  It does have good actors, who must have lowered their standards, and a good plot.  I think that’s the only thing that saved it from plummeting “into the blue.”  Stockwell doesn’t do himself any favors with casting the young, ditzy actors.  They were obviously hired for their bodies, not the abilities to play their roles. 

Josh Brolin (Bates) also shows up periodically, and you can tell he took the job for the semi-vacation.  One almost feels bad for Stockwell, forced to deal with mediocre actors.  Then along comes a shot that is pointed right up Scott’s hindquarters while she sunbathes, and the realization that, yes, this excuse for a theatre movie solely rests on Stockwell’s shoulders.  It would have been much better off just hitting Blockbuster (hint, hint).

If there is one positive thing, it would have to be that in every scene Stockwell makes sure there is skin and sexuality wherever you turn your head.  Sure, watching the camera glide softly, capturing the beauty of young bodies in his earlier films was disturbing enough.  But “Into the Blue” marks the first time he has stopped dead in his tracks to do it.  His camera gets stuck in the crotches of his female leads, and it seems he begged his male actors to perform every scene shirtless.  I mean come on, it was nice for a little bit, but I have to say, it becomes perverted. 

This movie was a fairly good film, but it wasn’t that good.  Take my word on this, do not waste your money or your time on seeing it in a theatre.  Wait until it comes out to rent, unless you want to pay $7 to see a bunch of partially dressed bimbos and a little excitement.  This movie is full of action and suspense, but it did have some things it could’ve done without.  It was a disappointment when it came to what I was expecting.  I give it two stars at the most.