'Extraordinary Measures'

'Extraordinary Measures' (PG) **

Writer: Robert Nelson based on the book "The Cure" by Geeta Anand
Director: Tom Vaughn
Starring: Harrison Ford, Brendan Fraser, Keri Russell, Meredith Droeger, Jared Harris

I have to start out my review by being respectful and stating first that I admire the purpose of "Extraordinary Measures". I admire that it is teaching us about the dangers of Pompe disease which is a rare form of muscular dystrophy. I respect that it is telling me how father John Crowley tried to find a cure for his two children by supporting the work of Doctor Robert Stonehill. I think a movie about this should be made but should have been aired on Lifetime, TNT or the O Network but not on a movie screen. I am sorry but this movie is supremely dull in it's delivery. I felt like someone was narrating to me the history of Pompe disease and about John Crowley's struggle in a monotone voice. It is such a noble and safe movie that it can't even spring to life. I am not saying that it isn't interesting but I think maybe more so at home on television. This is so even with the big screen presence of Harrison Ford who also produced. Maybe a movie about Ryan Dempster's daughter would be more lively and fun because he is very charismatic but Crowley is a bore as presented here. All Harrison Ford does is act grouchy and scream at people. Brendan Fraser is good but more dull than usual when he is not given action or comedy material. I don't want to be mean to this movie but someone should have noticed how dull this was. It doesn't inspire, it doesn't create emotion, it just lays there. I am not against disease movies released on the big screen. I loved last year's "My Sister's Keeper" which was about a girl with cancer. There have been many movies about disease and overcoming it that have been powerful but this isn't one of them.