AllMovie

This high-tech thriller has plenty of interesting ideas but is let down by some lackluster storytelling. Michael Crichton's script makes some interesting (and, in retrospect, very prescient) points about how corporations can abuse the mass media and the impact commercials have on peoples' lives but the story's tired murder-mystery premise doesn't give these ideas much room to breathe. It also suffers from an alarmingly high number of plot holes (no reason is ever given for why the models are being murdered), one-note characterizations, and some surprisingly flat dialogue. Crichton's uninspired work as director doesn't help things: Scenes like a car chase involving men armed with "looker guns" and a shootout on a commercial set should be thrilling but drag along at a snail's pace that saps them of any kinetic charge. The performances are hit and miss: James Coburn is amusingly arrogant as industrialist John Reston but Albert Finney seems tired, lost, and uninterested in his heroic role. On the plus side, Looker benefits from the occasional moment of dark humor, especially in the mock commercials that appear the film, and a sleek, hypnotic electronic score by Barry de Vorzon. Just the same, the lack of interesting characters and consistent storytelling make this a difficult film to stick with. As a result, Looker is more interesting today for its ideas than its entertainment value.