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Surrogates, the new futuristic actioner from Terminator 3 helmer Jonathan Mostow is one of those predictably capable whiz-bang thrillers that is neither intrinsically unique in any way, nor is it difficult to sit through. Like, say, most of Arnold Schwarzenegger's 1990s output or those deliciously silly Jean-Claude Van Damme 80s shoot-em-ups, Surrogates as a movie is difficult to defend aesthetically, but anybody with a sweet tooth for a chase sequence won't mind spending a few hours with the film.

The plot is very Avatar-esque, only without the sexy blue aliens and 3-D: In the not-too-distant future, most humans don't venture out into the world, choosing instead to get into tech-y pods in the comfort of their homes, opting to let their "Surrogates" (avatars) be the vehicle for their lives and times. So when FBI agent Thomas Greer (Bruce Willis) and his partner, Jennifer Peters (Radha Mitchell) get called in to tend to a particularly grisly murder case, their trail of crumbs toward finding their killer lead them out of their "Surrogate" bodies and out into towns and cities on their own, which is quite the ordeal - just ask The Prophet (Ving Rhames), the leader of a purely-human sect, who rejects all things "Surrogate".

Again, Surrogates runs fine fueled simply by Bruce Willis' presence. There are plot holes aplenty here, as well as unmotivated character arcs and storytelling devices that seem needlessly talky and complex, but when Willis' character switches from "Surrogate" to real person, Willis is able to make the sale effortlessly. And his chemistry with co-star Radha Mitchell is, if anything, totally capable.

Yet, like so many action flicks, any magic or resonance that Surrogates manifests all but evaporates within minutes of the film's final credit roll. Unlike Cameron's Avatar - which, love it or hate it, will have cultural import for years to come - Surrogates is cinematic equivalent of a chocolate bar: There's not a lot of nutritional value to it, but for a few minutes it tastes pretty damned good. And for a movie like Surrogates, that's enough.

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