So I went on down to the theater tonight. I hadn’t been in a couple weeks and decided that I better keep up before the big hallow-thanks-mas season of movies drops on us. So I paid my 5 bucks for a large soda… because you get free refills for a large.

So I went into “Burn” with a blank slate. It seemed like it was going to be one of those weird movies that you either love or hate. I was pretty much right.

“Burn” is quick to introduce a cast of characters that are all very messed up in the head. Everyone has issues, and they tend to not worry mostly about themselves. The premise behind this film is:

“A disc containing the memoirs of a CIA agent ends up in the hands of two unscrupulous gym employees who attempt to sell it.”

The plot unfolds as we get to know all of the character flaws. The shortcomings of these characters are the motivator for the plot. Another reminder that everything you do has an effect, usually negative, on everything around you. As these insignificant characters become more and more convinced that they are important the story becomes more and more twisted. This movie plays out similar to when you were a kid and tried to go down the slide but your butt stuck to the top and you didn’t move. You kept nudging it harder and harder, and slowly you start to pick up speed. Finally you take off and pick up speed. And then it’s over because it was a 5 foot slide and you took too long to get started….

Basically what I’m trying to say is that the pacing in the first half of the movie is a little dry. There are good gags, great jokes, but it still felt slow. It’s only at the point the story gets weird does the pace pick up. And when it starts to pick up they shut it down. This whole movie revolves each of the characters little subplots, and as the credits roll on, we have no lessons learned; no objectives completed, and except for a few “accidents”, the characters have not evolved. “Burn After Reading” accomplishes nothing…. But it does nothing with a precise and deadly accuracy.

My verdict: If you like the Coen Brothers, if you like anybody in this film, proceed with purchasing a ticket. Your favorite person will not let you down. This is a nice lightweight film that provides ample entertainment without being over-filling.