By Chris Castillo

Special to the News

There are few things that can save an ill-fated action flick. One of them is Bruce Willis.

In “Surrogates,” FBI agent Tom Greer (Willis) is investigating a mysterious murder in a world where murder, illness and disease are beyond rare. Greer lives in a world where robots interact and live for you, protecting people from the evil. In this world, 98 percent of all humans use a surrogate to exist in the world without stepping out of their homes. Instead, they have a stand in, which experiences everything for a better looking, robot, them.

Humans exist in separate rooms, living in their control chairs and not seeing their human spouses for months on end. Their fit, stylish surrogates go to work and parties, but the humans are getting pasty, dumpy and tired.

But things go terribly wrong when someone gets their hands on a machine that destroys the surrogate and its owner: something that should be impossible.

Greer is on the track of a killer when his surrogate is damaged, and he is forced to live among a world of robots.

The skeleton of this story is very good, but it is poorly executed by director Jonathan Mostow (“Terminator III: Rise of the Machines”).

It all comes down to a one question: is someone really living if they are living and interacting by using a machine to do everything? It’s a good premise but a poor script and directing almost disables this film. It is Willis that saves it. He is believable and is a sympathetic character that is out to find the truth. And he is good. He makes the film worth watching despite any shortfalls.

 Rated PG-13, the film also stars James Cromwell and Ving Rhames.



Abbott and Costello DVD set a home run

I feel a little kinship with Costello, of the comic troupe Abbott and Costello because everyone insists on saying my last name like Abbott’s the pudgy sidekick.

Of course I will never forget one of the funniest gags I’ve ever seen performed by the duo: “Who’s on first.” It’s outstanding that two men can play this comic gag without bursting into laughter themselves. Well, if you like the words “Hey Abbott” and can’t get enough or want to know more about this comic troupe checkout their newest 6-disc DVD “Legends of Laughter: Abbott and Costello.”

This DVD set includes their work from TV, film and radio. It is a laugh riot. Plus it includes extremely rare bloopers from film and TV. In addition, it offers two feature films: “African Screams” and “Jack and the Beanstalk.”

The set includes appearances from Marlene Dietrich, Errol Flynn, Lucille Ball, Lon Chaney Jr., Louis Armstrong and many other greats. This is classic comedy at its best.

Chris Castillo writes Reel News, a column focusing on DVD releases, indie films and entertainment.