I ain't happy
I'm feeling glad 
I got sunshine, in a bag
 I'm useless,but not for long 
The future is coming on

There is a speech at the end (as there must be at the end of most recent efforts involving Kevin Spacey) that discusses the trend of the universe expanding and imploding upon itself, then repeating this process.  The movie seems to follow a similar philosophy and unfortunately does not learn from its mistakes as the speech implies near its conclusion.  There are genuine feel-good moments, some sparkling dialogue, revelations and messages, but it all gets cluttered up in predictable situations.  Upon initial reflection, K-Pax struck me as a typical feel-good movie that fails in some of execution, by instilling situations for cinematic purposes only, so that they could be resolved and the audience could feel good.  That opinion has not wavered, but I have had a change of heart on the film’s conclusion.  At first, I faulted it for being “contradictory to the principles that the movie preaches, but convoluted in that it throws numerous faux endings at us, until it finds one that sticks".  But upon further review, and heeding the mantra of Spacey’s masterful American Beauty, I looked closer, and actually now admire the way the film leaves things unresolved to the observant and attentive.  So be forewarned, things may not always be as neat and tidy as they first appear. 

Spacey is Prot, a mysterious man who is picked up by the police after telling them he’s from another planet.  As you would expect him to be, since I’m sure the asylums are full of people making such claims.  But unlike 12 Monkeys for instance, Softley handles this one as his name suggests, softly, but realistically.  Prot claims to be from a wondrous and beautiful, yet emotionally disconnected planet called K-Pax.  He claims to have traveled on a beam of light, and will be going back the same way.  Of course everyone, including Bridges, as the doctor whom he is transferred to after nothing else seems to work, meets these claims with great skepticism.  The good doctor is a workaholic, who is estranged from his son, and is losing touch with his wife and children.  These are some of the plot manipulations, which just beg for resolution.  The underlying theme is one that I truly admired, and will, or at least should stimulate thought and conversation.  Why is that we will expend more energy trying to disprove something, then actually believe or prove it.  Blind faith (maybe represented by Prot spending the majority of the movie in sunglasses) is a message that the film could have focused more on I believe, and hit home harder.  Appreciate what you have around you; believe without cause or justification sometimes.  We trust, know and base so many philosophies on things we cannot completely see or understand.  So why then, would it be impossible for there to be someone from another planet amongst us?  That would entail a whole other debate that I’ll stay clear from, as the movie does, save a couple of opening diatribes explaining certain obvious details.  The film realizes that the focus is on Spacey, and the characters simplicity amidst the chaos and complications, and had it stuck to that stronger, would have worked a lot better.  The conclusion will probably be a sticking point for many, and I’ll just say this.  It appeared at first, to come to multiple resolutions, before finally settling for the one it did.  But in actuality, it was just strengthening the case for showing that not everything can be resolved or explained, sometimes just have to believe or trust.  There is an explanation introduced involving Bridges journey and discovery of information regarding a New Mexico missing persons case, but those who watch close, will notice that it actually doesn’t completely solve things.  Just remember the details of what Prot knows, sees, and endures, that’s all I will say.   I really wanted to like this film more than I did, because it proclaims to preach a message of seeing the simplicity and beauty in life and not trying to over analyze things too much.  When it stays this course, it works, when it drifts into crowd pleasing emotional heart manipulation, it stumbles, such as with the issue of Bridges son.  The overall effect is one of mixed satisfaction, and maybe slight confusion, but the X factor is Spacey, and he’s worth seeing it for if nothing else

As is usually the case, Spacey plays someone who may or may not know more than the rest of the cast.  He does this through his smug, yet vulnerable confidence, which he effortlessly exudes.  His conversations with Bridges work wonderfully, now that Bridges has come full circle from his Starman episode, to play the almost burned out, but still obsessive to a fault doctor (similar to his role in Arlington Road).  Together, they carry the film through its troubled moments, and to its resolution.  While the delivery is a bit diluted, the intention is very obvious, thanks to them, and some strong supporting performances from the inmates who run the typical asylum gamut, but have an innocent, relatable charm, as the movie does for the most part.

Mystical? Maybe 
Spiritual, hearable 
What appears in you is a clearer view cause you're too crazy

Ultimately, K-Pax is a movie that makes you feel good when it works but at times betrayed by its own premise.  There is a message here that comes across, but Softley tried so hard to beat it into the viewer, that he lost any effect.  There is not always a need to have everything make sense, or be resolved completely.  Life doesn’t always work out, or make sense, but it still goes on whether we like or not.  The film works best when it sticks to the message of acceptance of something for what it is, instead of trying to expend energy better spent, on trying to disprove what may seem implausible.  One of Spacey’s last comments discusses believing in the possibility of one thing, if Bridges will believe in another that seems irrational.  Had the movie stuck to the simplicity of some of its dialogue and ideals, it would have been a much more powerful experience. By trying to do too much, director Iain Softley doesn’t achieve as much as he could have and leaves us with Spacey’s performance, a non-Hollywood ending, and a lot of potential to remember this film by. ($$$ out of $$$$$)

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(Clint Eastwood, (2001), performed by Gorillaz, written by Damon Albarn)