Roller ball

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Roller ball ★ 2002 (PG-13)

Re-imagination of the 1975 cult classic. The sport of the near-future attracts extreme sports enthusiast Jonathan Cross (Klein), drawn by the big bucks and buddy (LL Cool J), who convinces him to try out. The sport itself, is sort of like pro wrestling on skates and motorcycles. Fleeing the law in the U.S., Jonathan heads to a former Soviet republic where the league is run by ex-KGB agent Petrovich (Reno) who wants to increase the sport's blood and gore factor to gain a stateside cable TV deal. Jonathan finds love with fellow baller Aurora (Romijn-Stamos) whose nearly unnoticeable “deformity” doesn't dissuade her suicidal suitor. Laughable scenarios, seriously ailing editing, corny script, lackluster performances and grave miscasting (the sensitive Klein as a macho macho man) make this one a prime candidate for contraction. 98m/C VHS, DVD . US Chris Klein, LL Cool J, Rebecca Romijn, Jean Reno, Naveen Andrews, Oleg Taktarov, David Hemblen; D: John McTiernan; W: Larry Ferguson, John Pogue; C: Steve Mason; M: Eric Serra.

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