Dollhouse: Joss Whedon’s first fizzle?
Posted in film, reviews on 02/18/2009 05:28 pm by EricEnter the Dollhouse, a hidden location where beautiful men and women, are stored in a subdued and distracted state. Stored until they are needed again. These men and women owe a debt to society, and in this new series, an anonymous A-team like corporate makes these operative available, for a price. The pretense is that the organization is doing good, helping society and generally improving the world. The reality is that this organization is taking away the freewill and lives of it’s operative, by mind-wiping and implanting new personalities for each mission.
Sounds like the stuff of classic science fiction, no? Well, no. Set in contemporary generic urban setting 4a, the plot had holes in it big enough to drive a truck through. Like, a top-secret, but cozy mind-wipe lab where patients can just wander in and out during procedures. Buzz. Try again Joss.
Joss, the brilliant mind behind Firefly, Buffy and Angel, might have thrown his first bomb. This eagerly awaited premiere showed off the so-so acting talents of Eliza Dushku, as an attractive but rather unconvincing programmable operative. Here’s hoping the second episode rolls out a little stronger than the first.