How many more movies do we have to endure where the 'hero' is introduced as a stereotyped disorganised twit (nerd) who also happens to have near genius ability? Viewers either picked up on this movie as tops in comedy, or just plain boring and silly. My feeling is it presents elements of the latter two, but despite the mis-directed development of the subject and plot by the writer, the director has to carry the can for what ends up as a botched job. Basically this story and film could have been much better. This story hinges on a few but nonetheless interesting premises, all of which are thrown away by the writer and director. Silliness, neuroses and psychoses are too often misused, or confused with comedy - especially by American writers and directors. To such an extent that many European critics consider anyone living West of Ireland incapable of understanding (or creating) irony or the truly eccentric character. (Gore Vidal, it should be noted has lived most of his life in Rome.) If 'Zero Effect' has been re-written by an Italian and made with Giancarlo Giannini picking up where he left off in 'Sono stato io' ('He was Himself') this film would be so hysterical you'd die.
Review of Zero Effect
