Memoirs of an Invisible Man

Directed by John Carpenter, Memoirs of an Invisible Man follows businessman Nick Halloway (Chevy Chase) as he’s rendered invisible after falling asleep in a high-tech facility – with the narrative subsequently detailing Nick’s efforts at reversing his predicament while also avoiding the encroaching approach of a shady government agent (Sam Neill’s David Jenkins). Filmmaker Carpenter delivers an entertaining yet decidedly erratic endeavor that’s been structured like an old-school detective story, and it’s clear, certainly, that Chase does a surprisingly effective job of stepping into the shoes of a traditional leading-man type (and it goes without saying that Neill is nothing short of electrifying as the movie’s smug villain). And although Carpenter does a nice job of establishing the scenario and Nick’s initial reaction to his newfound invisibility, Memoirs of an Invisible Man segues into a deliberately-paced and thoroughly uneven midsection that’s almost entirely lacking in any kind of tension – as Carpenter, working from Robert Collector, Dana Olsen, and William Goldman’s script, emphasizes Nick’s often unreasonably low-key exploits (including a somewhat uninvolving relationship with Daryl Hannah’s Alice). There’s little doubt, then, that Memoirs of an Invisible Man benefits substantially from a smattering of engaging action sequences (eg Neill and his goons chase Nick through busy streets) and a raft of impressively convincing special effects, which ultimately does cement the picture’s place as a middle-of-the-road (and fairly forgettable, ultimately) time-waster from a mostly unimpeachable filmmaker.

**1/2 out of ****