Loch Ness

Ted Danson stars as John Dempsey, a college professor who's hit rock bottom. His car breaks down, he's being chased for money and has zero professional credibility left. But his boss offers him a job to redeem himself "Go to Loch Ness, Scotland". Naturally, John thinks he's being asked to find the monster, but his boss says quite the contrary. "Go there and prove it's not there" he offers. Out of options and out of money, Dempsey reluctantly takes the job and heads off to Scotland.

Far from home and hating it, Dempsey reluctantly drags his feet through the nearby town, where his reputation as a monster hunter follows him. Colleagues from the scientific world approach him like adoring fans, asking how he tracked the Yeti and found Bigfoot. It's a past Dempsey would like to forget, as it's the reason no one takes him seriously anymore. And from all his past searchings of urban legends, he's never found anything, so is in complete denial that he will find the Loch Ness. After all, it's isn't real... right?

Armed with a boat he decks out with the best scientific equipment, Dempsey hits the water, with the assistant of his predecessor tagging along. Up and down, back and forth; the professor maps the massive lake with his scanners and sonar gadgets, but nothing is detected. Once again, Dempsey is the centre of jokes and ridicule, as he puts his already tarnished reputation on the line to find something not even the locals believe exists. Until he meets a young girl on the banks of the lake. Her name is Isabel; a wee lass with locks of red hair, and the strongest Scottish accent since Billy Connolly. For the age of nine, she is very cluey and switched on, and might just hold the secret behind the truth of the Loch Ness monster.

"Loch Ness" is not a film about the monster itself, but more about mans search for the monster. And it's an interesting character study, when Dempsey validates his argument that the creature does in fact not exist. He references his past, about being the optimistic monster hunter that believed in the unseen and unexplained. But when he turns up nothing yet again at Loch Ness (to start with at least), he is reminded that like every other story about Bigfoot, aliens and UFO's, they are probably just stories made up to makes us believe there is something better and far greater beyond what we just see with our own eyes. The unexplained mysteries of life allude to that, but when most of us never see such things, it's hard to believe. That is what the message of this film is all about; "Believing is seeing"

I caught this on the Sci-Fi channel, where it is aired from time to time. Methinks it ought to be shown on the Family Channel, as it is excellent family viewing. And no, there really isn't any sex in it. (But how else was I to get your attention?)

Ted Danson, who still seems just like Sam Malone from "Cheers" - only with a bad hair day - is quite winning in the lead role of this film. He plays a rather cantankerous, and somewhat discredited, American anthropologist who is sent to Scotland to disprove the existence of the "Loch Ness Monster".

He doesn't (at first, anyway) mix well with the local Scottish residents living near Loch Ness. Eventually he is won over by the dear sweet daughter (Isabel) of the local innkeeper. Her influence on him, along with that of the water bailiff, played by Ian Holm, profoundly change him towards the end of the film. Epiphany in the making.

If you value humanity over science, then this film is for you. It is a very enchanting movie that is worth watching. My advice: chill out, take a break from the war on terrorism and go rent this movie and give it a look. You'll be glad you did, and I highly doubt that you will be forced to run to the bathroom to be physically sick as did Aaron Fleming from N. Ireland. (While you're at it, rent another thoroughly enjoyable movie which was also filmed in Scotland, "Local Hero" (1983)).

Watch. Reflect. Reconsider your values in life. Then go pour yourself a good scotch.

the acting at first i thought seemed a little dry but really builds up character throughout the movie, now Ted Danson adds a great actor to the cast and the little girl really brightens up the movie, all in all not a bad flick for an afternoon movie.

7 out of 10.

A discredited American scientist (played by Ted Danson) is appointed the task of proving once and for all whether there is an unknown species in Loch Ness.

This is a fine family film which manages to be warm and sincere without losing sight of its main theme. There are plenty of interesting characters and moments of humour.

The only problems are the monsters themselves, which have faces like Jurassic Park Raptors. And caves under the castle? Only ten minutes of this were actualy filmed at Loch Ness, most of it taken at another Scottish loch which apparently 'looked more like Loch Ness than Loch Ness itself'.

If you can ignore the odd clanger, however, this is still a film hat's certainly worth seeing.

Okay, it's not exciting but it's still a great film - ideal for 'pleasent' viewing. The cast are brilliant, especially Joley Richardson and Kirsty Graham as mother and daughter - although it is a little unfair to imply that these two alone make the film watchable; others (Ted Danson, Ian Holm, & James Frain) really do help to make this a great film. The story is slow and gentle, making it great for a quiet viewing session. The special effects are limited which allows for the storyline to show through and, even though the end is a little predictable, It's still good to watch right through to Rod Stewart's brilliant closing song. Go for it, I watch it over and over when the mood takes.