Kevin Spacey shows why he is the man in this adaptation of the 1995 book by Charles Brewer. Spacey stars in this drama as Prot, a mental institution patient who claims to be a visitor from the planet K-Pax. Prot falls under the care of Dr. Mark Powell (Jeff Bridges), who immediately dismisses “Prot” as delusional. Throughout the course of the movie, several “miracles” happen around the mental hospital, as Prot’s presence seems to calm everyone.
Dr. Powell becomes intrigued by his latest patient, and begins to wonder that maybe Prot is who he claims to be; after Prot reveals something at an observatory, and is shown to have the ability to see ultraviolet light. The doctor sets out on an investigation to find out anything he can on “Prot”. But time is ticking on his investigation, as Prot claims to be leaving Earth and returning home on a given date. Dr. Powell worries about the outcome of such a claim.
The doctor reveals several interesting facts about the man known as “Prot”, and seems to have all the answers. That is until the surprise ending, that will leave many confused if they don’t pay attention to the WHOLE movie.
Several small details keep this movie from begin considered “Classic Status”, but those are hardly worth mentioning. Kevin Spacey is at his best in this movie though, and Jeff Bridges is wonderful as Dr. Powell as well. The movie is wrapped in a feel-good story, and a nice moral to go along with it all. And while no-where close to being considered a comedy, it is after all a scifi-ish drama, the movie is littered with little stuff that will have you cracking up; which only serves to make the movie even better.
If you haven’t seen the movie, then it is absolutely worth a rent. If you care enough about what I think, then you should skip the rent and go straight out and add this DVD to your collection, at the first possible chance you get. It does not disappoint.
K-PAX gets a four out of five: GREAT.
Review originally written in 2006.
