Clockstoppers
A teenager inadvertently stumbles upon a wristwatch that allows him--and anyone touching him--to move in ''hypertime,'' a highly accelerated speed that makes everything around him appear frozen in time.
Story
Zak Gibbs (Jesse Bradford) finds what looks like a wristwatch while scavenging through a box of his father's junk. What he doesn't know is that the watch is actually a device that makes its wearer move so quickly that the rest of the world appears to be moving in slow motion. The device was sent to his father (Robin Thomas), a science professor and dilettante inventor, by a former student (French Stewart) who is being held captive by an evil corporation. Now the evildoers want their watch back and kidnap the professor, while Zak, unaware that his father is in grave danger, runs around town with a cutie pie exchange student (Paula Garces) freezing time. Of course, the two teens eventually join forces and save the day. Not only is the film's plot is so unbelievably implausible, the characters are ridiculously typecast. The most insulting is Zak's black friend Meeker (Garikayi Mutambirwa), who dreams of winning a DJ competition. Eager to help him win, Zak and his gal pal go into hypertime and make like puppeteers, moving Meeker's arms and legs so that in real time it appears as though he's a good dancer.
Acting
Jesse Bradford (Bring It On) is the most redeemable thing in this film. His character Zak is a conventional teen who is smart, but not brilliant, and clever without being a hero. But unfortunately Bradford is stuck in this mess of a movie, acting alongside the pretty but frothy Paula Garces. Like most girls in the movies nowadays, her character, Francesca de la Cruz, is a vixen that cleverly puts guys in their places and can single-handedly beat up a villain. French Stewart is Dr. Earl Dopler, the watch's creator. Although his brainy character is the opposite of his airheaded Harry on Third Rock From the Sun, Stewart seems like he is the same persona simply reading a different script. Robin Thomas (The Contender) and Julia Sweeney (Whatever It Takes) play Zak's parents. Both are pretty standard fare: Thomas the parent married to his work at the expense of his relationship with Zak, while Sweeney is a regular June Cleaver type.
Direction
Why Jonathan Frakes, better known as Commander Riker on Star Trek: The Next Generation, or anyone, for that matter, would put their names on this project is unfathomable. From the hideously flashy and noisy opening credits to the predictable denouement, Clockstoppers is about as entertaining as nails scraping against a chalkboard. The ridiculous story, accompanied by flimsy special effects, was penned by too many writers to mention. This may explain the massive plot inconsistencies--are they not supposed to count because this film is aimed at younger viewers? At one point, Zak comes to the realization that for others to come in and out of hypertime, they must be touching him. But there are several instances throughout the film that clearly contradict this. The watch also makes its users age rapidly, but seems to spare Zak, his friends and the evildoers of this fate. And is there no gravity in hypertime? Zak and Francesca were able to toss Meeker around the stage like he was weightless. And is Meeker, a typical cheery Jamaican caricature with thick dreadlocks, in the film for no other reason than to offend? His character disappears halfway through the film after being redeemed by his white rescuers.
Bottom Line
While Monsters, Inc. and Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius demonstrated that films can be scripted intelligently for younger viewers, Clockstoppers does the opposite by delivering an empty story in a flashy package. Don't expect another Spy Kids-type number and skip this movie altogether.