'Source Code' (2011) is a Sci-fi Thriller that Feels like 'Quantum Leap' Mixed with 'Groundhog Day'

Make every second count.

Colter Stevens (Jake Gyllenhaal) is an American Army helicopter pilot who is part of a new military program, called Beleaguered Castle, run by Dr. Rutledge (Jeffrey Wright). The program allows a person to relive the last 8 minutes of someone's life or his or her "source code." Stevens' repeatedly relives the last moments of Sean Fentress (Frédérick De Grandpré), a passenger on a Chicago commuter train that was the target of a terrorist attack in order to discover the identity of the perpetrator.

At first Stevens thinks it is a simulation but mission controller, Carol Goodwin (Vera Farmiga), convinces him about the truth of the mission and guides his investigation. He grows close to another passenger, Christina Warren (Michelle Monaghan), and, disregarding Rutledge's explanation that the program is not time travel, wants to change the past and contact his father.

"Source Code" is a sci-fi thriller about the human mind, time travel and parallel universes that are overwhelming concepts that really make us think. Being Hollywood and not hard science, this movie gives a watered-down version of these concepts and takes many liberties in an effort to get the pieces to fit together. However, it falls apart under scrutiny, especially not being able to make up it's mind whether it is about the human mind, time travel, parallel universes or some amalgamation of the three concepts. It flip-flops from concept to concept, creating a chaotic story but ultimately seems to end on parallel universes without much of an explanation even though it focused on human consciousness. The 8-minute limit is not thoroughly explained, making viewers just accept it.

Many viewers like to believe that they have the whole movie figured out but, since time and parallel universe travel do not actually exist yet, who is to say how either would work if they are possible? Sure viewers might think logically but this type of travel might not work logically. This movie takes many liberties with the way reality works but it only does so to be entertaining, not to be something printed in a scientific journal. It does not stand up well under scrutiny; it is made to be entertaining.

There are several people on the train and in the military control center but there are only four main characters. Jake Gyllenhaal stars as Colter Stevens, Michelle Monaghan as Christina Warren, Steven's romantic interest, Vera Farmiga as Colleen Goodwin, the controller who quickly becomes Steven's friend, and Jeffrey Wright as Dr. Rutledge, the scientist who developed and is in charge of Beleaguered Castle.

The acting is adequate but overall nothing great. Jake Gyllenhaal is his normal caliber self and Michelle Monaghan adds a human touch to the thriller. Jeffrey Wright adds a cold callousness that helps drive the scientific aspect of the story.

For the most part, the story runs like a sci-fi thriller version of the comedy, "Groundhog Day" (1993), with the main character reliving the same day, in this case 8 minutes, repeatedly. The main character must learn from what he experiences each time he relives the same moments, slightly changing it each time.

It has a running time of 93 minutes with plenty of action but has slower parts as Stevens' repeats the same scenes in an effort to investigate everyone on the train. The action is stop and go which might be a little boring to some viewers. The repeated moments play through a few times but by midway the repeats are condensed snippets of what Stevens sees and does which makes the movie move along a little faster before returning to longer scenes.

The story seems somewhat original in the beginning but in hindsight, it does seem to nod to the '80s and '90s sci-fi TV series, "Quantum Leap," in which Sam Beckett, played by Scott Bakula, travels to different times and inhabits a different person's body to right problems in history. Bakula is the voice of Colter's father in this movie and even uses his catchphrase, "Oh Boy."

It is also a nod to "Donnie Darko" (2001), a movie dealing with alternate universes and time travel in which Jake Gyllenhaal also stars as Donnie Darko. In addition to that, Stevens says, "Everything is going to be okay," a line which Darko repeatedly says in that movie.

"Source Code" has pretty much the same plot as "Deja Vu" (2006), a movie about an ATF agent played by Denzel Washington whose job it is to use satellite technology to look back in time in order to stop a bombing and eventually discovers that it really does work as a time machine. His character also falls for a woman killed in the bombing. Swap the military for the ATF and the source code for satellite technology and you have almost the same story.

There are some special effects including computers, technology and the explosion that repeats several times but not much more than that. The train explosion is probably the biggest special effect of this movie. It makes one wonder where the estimated $32 million budget went.

"Source Code" is rated PG-13 for violence, disturbing images and language. It is a standard thriller with sci-fi but as the movie moves along, it becomes a bit darker than it first appears. Some of the images near the end of the movie might be disturbing to some people.

Although "Source Code" throws originality out the window, takes liberties with scientific theories and will be quickly forgotten, it is still one of the better parallel universe movies around. It stands its ground as an entertaining thriller with plenty of action and mystery with some sci-fi tossed into the mix.

Whether or not the sci-fi aspect is just added to make the movie appear smarter is not without merit due to its indecisive explanations but, if it is not looked at too seriously, it is nonetheless entertaining on several levels.

It also makes viewers contemplate time travel, parallel universes and some of the morals in the story -- thinking is something that is always interesting about movies like this. The beauty of this movie is a can be viewed as a straight up action thriller, a contemplative sci-fi or a combination of both of them. It is worth a view by fans of either genre.

Rating: 3/5

Quote

Colter Stevens: What would you do if you knew you only had one minute to live?
Christina Warren: I'd make those seconds count.
Colter Stevens: I'd kiss you again.
Christina Warren: Again?
[he kisses her]