Singh opts for a more traditional “on-the-run” action movie, with a confused protagonist hunting for the truth and a seemingly endless barrage of movie henchmen.
Ben Kingsley — doing what sounds like a phony, gravelly Brooklyn accent —stars as Damian, a billionaire architect on his deathbed. He hears about an organization that performs a new medical procedure called “Shedding.” After coughing up blood one too many times and having a few meetings with the organization’s leader, Albright (Matthew Goode), Damian decides to go for it, and he wakes up in a new body (Ryan Reynolds).
In a slickly directed and edited montage, we see Damian take his new body out for a test run, partying in various New Orleans clubs. However, he begins to see flashes of old memories that aren’t his, which eventually leads him to discover the ugly truth of his new body’s origin.
These opening 45 minutes or so are strong, and Damian’s a-ha moment underlines the fundamental dilemma with a procedure like Shedding: The young bodies must come from somewhere. Plus, the fact that Albright profits from the procedures makes things even murkier.
At about the halfway point, Damian goes on the run with Madeline (Natalie Martinez) and Anna (Jaynee-Lynne Kinchen), the wife and daughter, respectively, of Mark, whose body Damian now inhabits, and “Self/Less” turns into an extended chase scene.
Damian has a Jason Bourne moment when he realizes his young body is capable of hand-to-hand combat and Albright’s organization is the kind of organization that only exists in movies. They’re extremely secretive; yet, they have a full army of professional foot soldiers and “cleanup” crews to make sure their patients don’t get out of line.
As the movie goes on, the action aspect becomes more prominent, and the action set pieces themselves get increasingly ridiculous, creating tonal confusion. “Self/Less” has an intriguing sci-fi premise, but it’s wrapped in a silly, run-of-the-mill action/thriller.
Albright is the most compelling character in the entire movie, and Goode plays him with his usual relaxed charm and wit, along with menace.
But Reynolds is an odd casting choice. While he excels at the more awkward comedic moments near the beginning — Damian getting used to his new body —he simply doesn’t have an action-star presence. He’s not very smooth or intimidating, and he can’t aptly convey Kingsley’s seasoned gravitas.
Also, Damian has an estranged daughter, an underdeveloped relationship that could have been jettisoned entirely. And when you throw an innocent wife and daughter into a PG-13 action movie, you know nothing bad will happen to them, which eliminates some tension. While the quieter, tender moments between the three feel authentic, during the action sequences, Madeline and Anna just get in the way.
On the whole, “Self/Less” is a mild disappointment. Singh has a great concept on his hands, but the screenplay by David and Alex Pastor takes the underwhelming, popcorn action-movie path.
Rated PG-13 for sequences of violence, some sexuality, and language.