Review of THE ONE

THE ONE

Science fiction, Jet Li, multiverse, alternate identities, released 2001

The film opens with a shot of a prisoner being escorted down a prison catwalk while inmates hurl curses and threats at lawless.  At first you think they're cursing the guards, but it turns out LAWLESS (Jet Li) is the prisoner (though what he's done to generate such hatred is never shown). The police put a bulletproof vest and other protection to transfer him safely to another prison. But in the garage, Lawless suspects something is wrong, and a few minutes later, bullets erupt from a heating vent, killing Lawless. The shooter is YULAW (also Jet Li - everyone with a 'law' in their name is played by Jet Li.)

Yulaw is from an alternate universe and travels from one universe to another to kill his alternate identities and thus absorb their power. When Yulaw murders Lawless, his total number of kills is 144. Only one more identity is left, GABRIEL LAW, a LA cop in still another universe. If Yulaw kills Law, Yulaw will be so powerful, he'll be a god.

RODECKER and FUNSCH are police from the alpha universe who have been ssigned to prevent unauthorized travel between universes. They're trying to apprehend Yulaw and send him to the Stygian prison in the Hades universe, but Yulaw, with the powers he's absorbed from his victims, is faster and stronger. They turn to Gabriel for help. Like Yulaw, Gabe has been growing stronger with every death of an alternate identity, but he's still no match for Yulaw. Can Yulaw be defeated? If Yulaw kills Gabe, will Yulaw become a god? What if Gabe kills Yulaw and absorbs all of his power? Will that make Gabe a god, and if so, will he use his powers wisely?

I don't know the mathematics that predict a multiverse, but I'm pretty sure they don't allow for the shenanigans of this film.  And there are other plot flaws.

Jet Li is fun, and generally (not always) portrays his multiple roles adequately, though not with the brilliance of Tatiana Maslany who usually leaves no doubt as to which clone she represents in ORPHAN BLACK.

Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a 14% approval rating. Granted, it's a lightweight flick, but I thought it was enjoyable, with lots of action and even a little food for thought. Though it has no outstanding characteristics, it will get your pulse up to a run and help the minutes pass by.  I give it ++++.