Omega Code, The (1999)

reviewed by
Jerry Saravia


"The Omega Code" gets my vote for one of the best, cheeriest comedies ever made. It is often so damn funny that I could not hold back my laughter - a deliberate hark back to the kind of spoof that Mel Brooks used to make.

The film stars Casper Van Dien as Dr. Gillen Lane, a mythology guru who believes he has unlocked the secrets of the Bible Code that tells of prophecies, past and future. Yes, these codes foretold of Princess Diana's demise not to mention the assassination of Kennedy, and so on. I wonder if any mention was made of the rape of the Central Park jogger back in the 1980's, or the recent Colombine massacre, or how about the Oklahoma bombing. But never mind, obviously, it dictates events among the rich and famous only.

Enter the wealthy businessman, Stone Alexander (Michael York), who wants to rule the world and needs to find the key to the ancient city of Jerusalem - he just needs the good doctor to unlock the remaining bible codes to determine the future. Or something like that. And what can we make of the two prophets, who appear and disappear at will? And will the overworked Dr. Lane fix his marriage to the sweet, lonesome Jennifer (Devon Odessa)? And is Alexander's trusted emissary, Dominic (Michael Ironside), intent on double-crossing his boss?

Okay, so "The Omega Code" is not a comedy, it is a timely biblical thriller that is too unintentionally funny to really score on a dramatic level. I knew the movie would not work as soon as Casper Van Dien's overacting began when he explains on a talk show, with his motivational speaking skills intact, the veracity of the Bible Codes. Amazingly, no one in this film questions whether such codes exist. Of course, there is controversy over such codes in today's world but wouldn't we be more interested in what those codes say about our future rather than the accidental death of Princess Diana?

"The Omega Code" is not humorous enough on a good bad movie scale to sit through, and hardly thrilling for one second. It is preposterous and dull with garden-variety special-effects that are equalled on the level of the defunct "Mystery Science Theatre 3000" show. The film also has the kind of hammy performances that would have delighted the "MST" crowd. The funniest thing about this movie is that it was financed by the Trinity Broadcasting Network - such funding should have been used for more worthwile endeavors.

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E-mail me with any questions, comments or general complaints at jerry@movieluver.com or at Faust667@aol.com


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