The Happening

I only went to see this movie because I find Mark Wahlberg incredibly sexy at times, and I'm glad that I went in with low expectations. Despite a promising cast including Zooey Deschanel and John Leguizamo alongside Wahlberg, this was a huge disappointment, particularly as M. Night Shyamalan's first foray into R rated film.

We all expect a big twist from a Shyamalan movie, and at least a few moments that will make you jump. The Happening was lacking in both. I remember walking out of The Sixth Sense terrified of ghosts, and then refused to get out of bed at night for at least six months. Walking out of The Happening, all I could think about was wanting my money and that lost hour and a half of my life back. The only reveal that could potentially be called a twist came halfway through the movie and was just not exciting in the least.

As for the fact that this was Shyamalan's first R rated film, well he didn't really earn the rating. Cameras cut away before anything could become truly gory, and with a few extra seconds cut here and there, the movie could have easily been PG-13.

Overall, The Happening was just an hour and a half of watching people kill themselves in every way imaginable. The only entertaining moment came from an agitated young military man exclaiming, "Cheese and crackers!" in lieu of some other expletive.

Let's just hope Wahlberg doesn't disappoint as Max Payne, because that I actually have high hopes for.

Recommendation: Waste of Time