"ELEVENTH HOUR: THE COMPLETE SERIES"
DVD Review
by Kevin Carr
| MOVIE: *** (out of 5 stars)
DVD EXPERIENCE: * (out of 5 stars) STARRING Rufus Sewell as DR. JACOB HOOD Marley Shelton as RACHEL YOUNG Omar Benson Miller as FELIX LEE Not Rated Available on DVD October 20 Buy the DVD! Studio: Warner Bros. Back to DVD Review Home |  |
WHAT IT’S ABOUT
Dr. Jacob Hood (Rufus Sewell) is a special science consultant for the FBI. His handler Special Agent Rachel Young (Marley Shelton) is a no-nonsense lady who loves to shoot a gun. Together, they are called into special cases that need a little extra attention. Using his vast knowledge of science, Dr. Hood is able to solve a variety of crimes and mysteries, often at the last minute. The series is based on the British miniseries of the same name.
WHAT I LIKED
“Eleventh Hour” has a lot in common with several shows, and it had a hard time differentiating from them. However, in many ways, it was better than a show like “Fringe” because the chemistry between the main characters was so much more natural. If only this series had a Walter in it, it might have survived.
Rufus Sewell owns the show with his dark presence, yet he gives a humanity to the character of Jacob Hood. Likewise, Marley Shelton comes across well on screen and manages to be somewhat convincing as the perky girl who is just as likely to shoot you as anything else.
There are some pretty wild mysteries, which deal with topics like cloning, radiation poisoning, terrorism, drug trafficking and cryogenics. The stories generally kept me guessing, and I did enjoy the show as I have series like “The Mentalist.”
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
The biggest problem that “Eleventh Hour” faced was that it was inherently imitative (even if it didn’t mean to be), and it took too long to settle on what popular show it was going to end up imitating. The season started with an “X-Files” or “Fringe” feel. In fact, the opening credit sequence really borrowed from the “Fringe” imagery. There was the whole FBI connection, as well as the application of bizarre science. Even the series name had an apocalyptic flavor.
As the season progressed, it seemed to borrow its character interaction from shows like “The Mentalist,” with the tough authoritative pretty girl in charge of the eccentric consultant. However, the plots of the episodes fell into the pattern of a show like “House M.D.” without the benefit of taking place in a hospital.
It was a strange mix, and it didn’t always flow well, though the mysteries were better constructed than “The Mentalist” and there was more hope and optimism than “House M.D.” And, I’d take Marley Shelton any day over Robin Tunney.
Alas, the explanations did get a little out there for what is basically a police procedural series, and the characters tended to be a bit overly judgmental of criminals and their adversaries to make the audience fully comfortable with them.
DVD FEATURES
Unfortunately, there are no special features included on this DVD box set.
WHO’S GOING TO LIKE THIS MOVIE
People who like shows like “The Mentalist,” “Fringe” and “House M.D.”
