The only thing missing from "Instinct" was a large Native American inmate in the prison's psych ward. A lot of talent and energy has been expended on a film that's just loaded with cheese. Each time I thought they were on to something, the writer went for the easy out. Anthony Hopkins does some wonderful body work as a zoologist who lives among the gorillas for two years. Cuba Gooding, Jr. does a beautiful job with dreadfully written monologue at the end. Maura Tierney is terrific. But one scene was such an obvious lift from "Cuckoo's Nest" I'm surprised Ken Kesey didn't ask for "inspired by" billing. And towards the end, I was evaluating each new plot development in terms of how much it would add to the film's box office. Overall prediction: it will break even at the very least thanks to ancillary markets, and Hopkins could snare a Golden Globe nomination, but it will hardly go down in film history.
Review of Instinct
