“K-PAX” can be considered a modern day homage to the classic “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” The 2001 science-fiction flick is based off a Gene Brewster novel of the same name, and stars Kevin Spacey as a mysterious patient at the Psychiatric Institute of Manhattan, and Jeff Bridges as the psychiatrist who attempts to treat him.
Prot (Spacey) claims to be a visitor from a distant planet called K-PAX, and employs a series of parlor tricks and knowledge to prove his authenticity. Surrounded by a variety of patients all suffering from their own unique trauma, prot uses his worldly insight to improve their shameful quality of life. As Dr. Mark Powell (Bridges) goes to work on prot, prot works his way with the other patients, readying them for the outside world as he himself prepares to return to his home planet.
The plot of the movie is something we’ve seen before in different incarnations. An outsider is able to help sick or impaired people in a way that structured medicine can’t. The other patients at the hospital immediately take to prot as soon as he arrives, and of course all readily accept his K-PAX story.
The acting from the two leads is great. In particular, Jeff Bridges (known for his buffoonish Dude character in “The Big Lebowski) is thoroughly believable in the role of a psychiatrist who wants to do what is right despite the corporate pushback from his boss. Powell has his own issues with his estranged son and of course, prot helps him in his journey too.
What’s unique is that the true identity and background of prot are left up to the viewer to decide. There will be supporting arguments on both sides of the coin; that prot is a mentally disturbed person or he is actually an extra-terrestrial from light years away. The ending of the film will leave the viewer pondering many different things. I enjoy this type of story that doesn’t force feed the audience in one direction or the other. A modern movie would have shown prot shooting cgi lasers from his ears. Here, we get ambiguous flashes of how he may, or may not, be an alien being.
“K-PAX” suffers from a third act that could easily have dropped 10-12 minutes. Despite the exciting conclusion, it feels weighted as Dr. Powell begins piecing together the mystery.
“K-PAX” is not highly regarded but it is a solid movie that is fun to watch.
