The Butterfly Effect 2 (DVD)

I was one of the few viewers who actually liked The Butterfly Effect. Of course, I did only see on DVD, with the more satisfying conclusion… but I don't think any ending would have made that much difference. I liked the premise, the actors, and the visual style. The movie resonated with me.

I wish I could say the same for The Butterfly Effect 2. I'd even take one of three, but in this case nothing ever takes wing. The premise is basically the same — the brains of certain traumatized people can create alternate realities that allow them to go back in time and right wrongs — but the set up and characters are classic cookie-cutter.

Nick takes his girlfriend, Julie, and their two best friends, Trevor and Amanda, out to the beach to celebrate Julie's birthday. Everything's going great on the mini-vacation until they are all crushed to death by a big rig on the way home. I hate when that happens! Anyway, Nick survives and lives on in a bizarre fantasy world of his own making that resurrects Julie, Trevor and Amanda… only to kill them over and over again.

Unlike the first Butterfly Effect, which had layers of story that spanned decades in the time-travel milieu, the sequel only jumps back forth within one year and our "hero" often comes off as selfish and smarmy rather than troubled and sympathetic.

On top of all that, the movie is just plain boring. In spite of an attempt at a "create your own adventure" editing style, by the time the movie nears its end you'll be such a bad mood you're about ready to pull the wings off of butterflies.

Special Features:
Commentary by director John R. Leonetti and co-producer Michael Stirling
"Altering Reality: On the Set of The Butterfly Effect 2" featurette

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Reviewed by Staci Layne Wilson