Fireball and Pyrotechnic Fun: A Movie Review

Writer: Kraig Wenman.

Director Kristoffer Tabori is a California born filmmaker and a prolific actor who has appeared in over 50 features, or television shows. Tabori also has a long directing career with participation in over thirty features and is the creator of at least two SyFy original features entitled High Plains Invaders and Fireball. Fireball made an appearance on the SyFy channel early in 2009 and an anonymous review at Disc Dish says of the film "sadly, there's nothing Marvel-ous about Fireball." But, in fact, Fireball is not so melancholy and one of MTI Home Video's more entertaining releases for 2010.

The film's plot requires some imagination as character Draven, played by Aleks Paunovic ("BattleStar Gallactica), becomes a human match after ingesting a heavy dose of steroids and coming in contact with a raging fire. Draven's DNA from here on in replicates itself into a new form and allows this character to regenerate tissue, quickly. Unfortunately, for everyone else in the film Draven has a short temper and a bone to pick with almost everyone. Soon an entire town is up in flames with Draven scouting out the local nuclear power plant for a pyrotechnic inspired good time.

Fireball is not Shakespearean drama, nor does the film try to be; simply put, Tabori's latest is mostly mindless entertainment. Disc says of the entertainment qualities of Fireball: "it's hard to get fired up about Fireball;" yet, the interaction between investigators Ava, played by Lexa Doig ("V") and FBI agent Lee Cooper (Ian Somerhalder) are witty enough and evocative enough to create for a fun time. Somerhalder seems awkward in some of his scenes as a high profile lead investigator, but the action sequences and dastardly exploits of character Draven keep up the intensity and the thrills.

One of the most entertaining aspects of the film is watching almost a whole town go up in flames! Propane tanks explode on unaware victims and fuel trucks are used for murderous adventures. As well, the creation of an actual fireball by the antagonist leads to some hilarious stunts as characters scramble to get away. The film may not reinvent the wheel, yet the stunts, action sequences and pyromania are sure to delight some of the more sadistic cinephiles out there.

Fireball will release on to DVD June 22nd through MTI Home Video and the fun will explode on your television screen if you like a little escapism in your DVD catalog. Do not underestimate Fireball despite a few flaws and instead appreciate an action film created by an action star.

Writing/plot/story: 6.5 (imaginative, but the creation of the human Fireball could have been given a little more attention).
Characters/characterizations/action: 7 (the investigators are likeable, but the character Draven could have been given some more dimensions and his character's motivations explored further).
Editing/continuity/pacing: 7 (a continuity error with an exploding propane tank and the absence of smoke, pacing is ever moving forward, one editing challenge where a van explodes and looks unbelievable - how did the characters escape).

Overall: 6.75 grins out of 10.

A review of Fireball at Disc Dish here:

Fireball Reviewed at Disc Dish

A review of Fireball by Christina Zawadiwsky, which is heavily focused on the plot:

A Review of Fireball at Movie Room

Fireball at MTI Home Video:

Fireball at MTI (Distributor)

The film's trailer here on 28DLA:

Fireball's Trailer