John Woo has slipped a long way from the nosebleed heights of Hard Boiled. Paycheck sees Ben Affleck play a scientific genius (there goes the plausibility) who wakes up from a memory wipe to find himself on his former employer's hit list. It's a given that most of the action is illogical; that it's also stultifyingly boring is unforgivable. An M:I-2-style bike chase ups the tempo, but mind erasure will seem like a tempting proposition after enduring this twaddle.
DVD Extras:
Two commentaries from "One-take John" and writer Dean Georgaris point out where corners were cut, while two featurettes concentrate on the stunts (average) and design (impressive). Jump to the alternate ending: it was cut, apparently, to "make Ben look smarter". Fat chance.
