Cellular (2004)

A good gimmick can go a long way, so it was a decent idea to film the ultimate contemporary challenge: sustain a cell phone signal as though your life depended on it. Add the fact that it's L.A., and Cellular could have had some sly social commentary thrown in for good measure. The film never quite attains its goals, but it does rebound toward something halfway decent after a clumsy beginning. During the under-thought opening half, L.A. might as well be the Lesser Antilles for all it resembles the actual city -- geographically, traffic-wise, or in terms of its internationally recognizable airport. But along the way, Cellular gathers some momentum and does interesting things with both the possibilities and limitations of mobile communication. Tear-streaked, a quaver in her voice, and always just a shade unconvincing, Kim Basinger leads a cast that's far better than such a B-movie might expect. Especially surprising, though surprisingly effective, is William H. Macy as the obligatory retiring cop. Not that they behave like real people most of the time; no more would the kidnappers let Basinger bang around unshackled in the attic, than would Chris Evans' character hold up a cell phone store for what might be a prank caller, for all he knows. But the real hero is Evans' cell phone, which takes a beating, yet still perfectly transmits sounds and voices from 15 feet across the room. As gimmicky thrillers go, Cellular needed a lot more Speed and a lot less Phone Booth to be truly worth your anytime minutes. ~ Derek Armstrong, All Movie Guide