Memoirs of an Invisible Man

A list of questions that occurred to me while watching this. Is this a comedy or a drama? Because it seems reluctant to do either. The humor is muted and never elicits more than a polite chuckle, and the drama never rises to the level a man-on-the-run movie needs. Is this a tribute to noir movies? If it is, it doesn't seem to understand that a noir movie, even when the hero is on the run, needs a hero that feels capable and intelligent. Chevy Chase does not exude that. In fact, why was Chevy Chase cast as the lead here? He really only has two modes: schlubby, clumsy, affable goober (the Vacation movies, Spies Like Us, Three Amigos), or smug, overly confident jerk (Caddyshack, Fletch). There's not really any in between with him, and Memoirs lands in that excluded middle. He has neither the wit or geniality of Clark Griswold, nor the slick arrogance of Fletch. He's impossible to take seriously as a dramatic leading man, but since he's never allowed to be play to his strengths, he's just ... there. Who is his character, Nick? The movie says, literally out loud, he's human wallpaper; no friends, not outstanding at his job, no family, no nothing. But he has friends, he is quite busy at work and appears to be very successful, has some charm with women ... so we're told one thing but shown another. Why does this movie not understand invisibility? Before becoming invisible, Nick is a regular guy. As soon as becomes invisible, he seems to lose common sense and any sense of balance. Instead of using his invisibility to easily get several states away from the shadowy government guys chasing him, he sticks around town. He goes to his favorite club, his apartment, places he's familiar with. WHY. And why does he lose all balance and spatial awareness? He knocks into everyone and everything. He's invisible, not blind. I know the idea is to give him a visual trail that viewers can watch, but it makes no sense with what we've seen of the character to that point. If he was Clark Griswold levels of clumsy buffoon before becoming invisible, okay, makes sense. But he's not. Somehow, becoming invisible makes him LESS stealthy. Why is Daryl Hannah the romantic interest? Couldn't they get anyone else? She is as dull and uninterested as a six year old at an insurance seminar. No charisma, no energy, no chemistry with Chase. She adds nothing. Are we sure John Carpenter directed this? I see his name on there, but could it be another person with that name? There is NOTHING of his style in this movie. I'm not expecting to see Halloween or They Live here, but the man does have a style, and this movie shows none of it. The pacing is off (the first half hour is rushed, and the rest of the movie drags), any sense of suspense or excitement is absent, even the score is non-descript. If you said it was directed by most anybody else not on the level of a Spielberg, I'd believe whatever you say. It feels less like a John Carpenter movie and more like a movie John Carpenter was hired to direct. Is this the worst movie Carpenter ever did? No. There's still a few I haven't seen, but the man made Vampires and tried to make James Woods an action lead in 1998. I have a hard time believing anything gets lower than that. Is it watchable? Sure. There's nothing offensive in it. There's just nothing great about it either. It's a bowl of corn flakes for breakfast. It is the color beige. It is any song by a one-hit wonder that isn't their one hit. Consumable, but forgettable. How forgettable? I'm sorry, were we talking about something?