Film Review: The One (2001)

Parallel universes are very fashionable in Hollywood these days. However the concept itself isn’t particularly original and it was used before, although not with good results. One such example can be found in The One, 2001 science fiction action film directed by James Wong.

The script, co-written by Wong and Glen Morgan, is based on the idea that the number of parallel universes is limited to 125 and that each of its inhabitants has physical identical copy of himself or herself in each of them. When one of them dies, life force is redistributed among survivors making them stronger. This was realised by former interdimensional policeman Gabriel Yulaw (played by Jet Li) who decided to use dimensional wormholes and hop between universes, killing his counterparts and gradually gaining almost godlike powers. His last remaining counterpart is Gabe Law (also played by Jet Li), deputy sheriff in Los Angeles County, who is suddenly has to deal with series of attempts on his life. When he faces perverted version of himself coming from another universe, he receives help from two interdimensional policemen – Agents Roedecker (played by Delroy Lindo) and Agent Funsch (played by Jason Statham).

Morgan and Wong are best known for their work on television, which included some of the best episodes of The X-Files, Millennium and the creation of Space: Above and Beyond. However, anyone expecting something at that level is going to be quite disappointed by The One. Plot is rather predictable, dialogues drown in clichés and the parallel universes look less imaginative than those in average episodes of Sliders. What makes this film watchable is Jet Li, Chinese actor who demonstrates very good martial skills, especially so in the scenes when, with the help of CGI, his character has to fight against another version of himself. There are couple of occasional bright moments in the film – like the small details describing similarities of Gabe’s universe with our own and memorable last line. That, however, isn’t enough to recommend this film to anyone except the most loyal fans of Jet Li.

RATING: 3/10 (+)

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