‘Tron: Legacy' provides plenty of dumb, fun action (with trailer)

BY JOE TYRRELL

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Far back in the mists of the 20th Century, no soothsayer could have foretold the legacy of "Tron."

The 1982 Disney production was set on the dawn of a new frontier, as a pioneering trek into the world of computer animation. While the simulations, and the writing, were as primitive as any Wild West dime-novel, its day-glo colors and optimistic message pointed the way toward a bright future.

A modest success, that "Tron" nevertheless amassed a cult following. As Kevin Flynn, the hacker hero of the first movie who returns in "Tron: Legacy," explains to his son, the goal was "a system where all information would be free and open."

Ahem.

Moving right along to the 21st Century, "Tron: Legacy" puts Jeff Bridges back on the grid as Kevin Flynn. While Bridges is always a welcome presence, "Tron: Legacy" dares ask the question, "How much of the Dude is too much?" It offers not only an attractively grizzled actual Jeff quoting Zen aphorisms, but glimpses of his younger and sleeker self.

Above all, there's a heapin' helpin' of digitally enhanced and de-aged Bridges. Whether that's effectively creepy or merely creepy may depend on your tolerance for 3-D adventures in dataland, where Bridges v.3 now presides as Kevin Flynn's alter ego Clu, Codified Likeness Utility.

Bruce Boxleitner also is back on board as Flynn's ally in unearthing nefarious goings-on at the Encom Corp., Alan Bradley. His digital alter ego Tron was the heroic computer athlete and warrior of the first film.

Neither Boxleitner nor Tron are given much to do this time around. That's still better than Cindy Morgan, who played his gal pal. Despite a campaign by fans, she has disappeared entirely. Hollywood's data file reads: Jeff Bridges, beloved star born to show business; Bruce Boxleitner, that guy who was in "Babylon 5;" Cindy Morgan, middle-aged woman.

Instead, the film chooses to focus on Flynn's wealthy slacker son Sam, pining for the father who disappeared years ago.

Played by Garrett Hedlund with all the nuance of a back-up disk, Sam is the typical Hollywood young male character: characterless except for ill-advised, vaguely anti-social, daredevil behavior that makes for scenic stunts. Seven letters, starts with "a," ends with "e."

Agitate. Sam likes to agitate. On the other hand, the target audience for this film is boys of all ages. And a major motorcycle company just loves the product placement.

Faster than Sam can say, "What you see is what you get," he gets sucked into the digital space where his father colorfully cavorted so many years ago. Now, it's a city of night, stacked with violent spectacles, sinister monumentalism, members-only debauchery, proto-facist ideology and permanent preparation for war. In pursuing perfection, Clu has created a virtual Washington, D.C.

In a world where everyone else seems to be wearing black leotards with jackboots, vests and metal disks, Sam is quickly picked up by helmeted police and assigned to "games." Four Barbiesque young women in light gray and white leotards give him a makeover for combat with disks. Gem, the blondest and Barbiest of them all, even shows some personality. When Sam asks what to do, she advises, "Survive."

Enlivening the dim decor, trails of light flow from those dangerous disks and speeding motorcycles as Sam competes against the natives. At last he is rescued by Olivia Wilde of "House," playing a hot-rodding Bohemian type who is not with the program. One might expect her to be named Flash Drive, but in one of its missed opportunities, the movie opts for Quorra.

There is no available evidence that Olivia Wilde can ever be made to look bad, but that doesn't stop wardrobe from trying. She's stuck in the black uniform of most characters, and while others have colored patterns, Wilde's spatter of white dots and trickled lines looks like she used it as a drop cloth while painting her ceiling.

Added to that is a black wig, apparently intended to reinforce Wilde's already androgynous look but instead suggesting Louise Brooks after an encounter with a hedge clipper.

The best idea in "Tron: Legacy" is a wonderful backstory for Quorra, which it promptly shoves aside to be handled in a coming video game. In the present, all information is proprietary and will be merchandised for big bucks.

Like Sam, the movie for a time seems to lose interest in Quorra in favor of two more flamboyant characters. Gem returns, and as embodied by Beau Garrett she is not only much more 3-D than Olivia Wilde but is awarded a costume that enhances those curves. (Although both actresses can be glad they have gotten past "Turistas.")

Garrett has an even showier ally in Michael Sheen. Seen recently as Tony Blair in the estimable "The Queen" opposite Helen Mirren, Sheen here plays a character who combines elements of Blair, Elizabeth II and Liberace. Acting!

Sheen and Garrett clearly enjoy themselves, and Wilde's expressive face conveys more than her underwritten lines. "Tron: Legacy" offers plenty of dumb, fun action. Some of its effects are beautiful, and the 3-D, while not as well realized as "Avatar," adds the occasional swoosh.

But like so many Hollywood scripts, this one seems to arise from unresolved family issues. Sam's reunion with his father is oddly written and staged, with little of the emotion or even conversation that a real one might engender. (Their dinner with Quorra is notable mainly for the full roast pig on the table. Poor hapless piggy, to be the only animal in this digital world to end up there.)

As for subsequent developments, let's just say that as family get-togethers go, the Flynns' doesn't work out quite as well as the Prodigal Son's.

For all its other problems, Syfy's recently cancelled series "Galactica" put characters into a well-realized virtual world and conveyed a sense of what it would be like to live inside, and gradually master, a shoot-'em-up game.

"Tron: Legacy" lacks any such emotional or intellectual investment. Still, it can be entertaining. Some snowy Saturday, go to the movies and just put your mind on hold, do what you're told. There is a message, only now it is: Buy our game.

Joe Tyrrell may be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it