You're in the Entertainment - Entertainment highlights - Top Stories section

Illogical ‘Past Life’ leaves viewers behind

By Rick Bentley / The Fresno Bee

Monday, Feb. 08, 2010 | 12:00 AM

tool name

close
tool goes here
0 comments

The new Fox series “Past Life” looks at how a group of scientists use clues from a person’s past life to help them deal with a problem in their current life. It stars Nicholas Bishop, Richard Schiff and engaging newcomer Kelli Giddish.

Whether viewers believe in reincarnation is not an issue for the series.. “The X-Files” was a hit despite a focus, in part, on UFOs and “Fringe” requires an acceptance of an alternate universe.

What’s wrong with “Past Life” is it asks the viewer to take major leaps — big enough to get across the Grand Canyon with miles to spare — in regards to the clues. A person might mention they have a fear of water and suddenly the team is looking for deadly events at a lighthouse.

Really? How about a river, water tower, swimming pool or birdbath?

One big leap leads to another. By the end, the line of investigation has more twists than a Jackson Pollock painting.

Review

“Past Life”: Grade: C+

“Past Life” may settle into the standard storytelling of “Lie to Me” or “Fringe.” The writers just need to take fewer leaps of logic.

TV and movie critic Rick Bentley can be reached at rbentley@fresnobee.com or (559) 441-6355. Read his blog at fresnobeehive.com.


Similar stories:

  • Another star is dismissed from `Dancing'

  • Another star is dismissed from `Dancing'

  • Latest boom in comic-book movies is making cultural heroes out of former geeks

  • Gay marriage support

  • Comedy is king again on network television

The Bee's story-comment system is provided by Disqus. To read more about it, see our Disqus FAQ page. If you post comments, please be respectful of other readers. Your comments may be removed and you may be blocked from commenting if you violate our terms of service. Comments flagged by the system as potentially abusive will not appear until approved by a moderator.

Advertisement

From The Beehive
SNL says farewell to Kristen Wiig

Kristen Wiig says goodbye to Saturday Night Live.read more »

Holy crap, Matthew Fox

Matthew Fox is an insane villain in Alex Cross. read more »

Facebook photo of the day

Congrats to all the grads this weekend.read more »

Complete Beehive →
National entertainment
Free-e-book promotes fall releases with excerpts

Summer is weeks away, but the fall book season has already started.

'Forrest Gump' actor Sinise to raise money for vet

Actor Gary Sinise is keeping a promise to help raise money for a southwest Virginia Marine who lost his limbs in Afghanistan.

Bogart's son to help Ohio farm where parents wed

The oldest child of actors Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall is helping to raise money to renovate part of the Ohio farm where the pair married in 1945.

English town made infamous by Ali G changes name

The town made infamous by comedian Sacha Baron Cohen's Ali G character has changed its name.

Jackson raises money for quake-damaged Va. county

Country singer Alan Jackson has raised more than $150,000 to help a Virginia county rebuild schools damaged by last year's earthquake.

More stories →
Most Read Stories

Most E-mailed 
        $(document).ready(function(){
            $("dd:not(:first)").hide();
            $("dt a").click(function(){
              $("dd:visible").slideUp("fast");
              $(this).parent().next().slideDown("fast");
              return false;
            });
          });