Chill Factor (R, 1999)

A scientist (David Paymer) working for the defense department doesn't realize how potent his new chemical weapon is until it kills 18 soldiers. The scientist isn't punished because he's too important to the Defense Department. But DOD needs a fall guy, so they frame the highest ranking officer involved (Peter Firth), who goes to prison for 10 long years. Because he tried to stop detonation of the device in the first place, he spends his time in prison getting angrier and angrier and emerges intent on stealing this weapon and selling it to terrorists.

This movie should come in a white box with a generic label -- it is all concept and explosions, with nothing worthwhile in its plot, character, or dialogue.

While audiences may be willing to suspend mountains of disbelief if the characters are interesting, CHILL FACTOR's dialogue is so stunningly dumb that it is hard to care what happens to them. It all seems like a tired collage of too many bland attempts to re- create "Speed." Parents should know that there is some strong language and a good deal of cartoon-style violence, but that what is far more likely to be detrimental to kids is the overall stupidity. I'm just as fond of mindless summer explosion movies as anyone, but this one just isn't worth it, even at the 99 cent matinee.