Film Review – Brave New Jersey

The premise of “Brave New Jersey” imagines the hysteria of a small town in 1938 that’s come into contact with the Orson Welles radio adaptation of H.G. Wells’s book, “The War of the Worlds.” Such a plot immediately brings to mind the potential for 90 minutes of comedic anarchy, watching everyday souls deal with a Martian invasion that never was. Weirdly, co-writer/director Jody Lambert doesn’t slam his foot on the gas when it comes to the vivid imaginations of those who believe Welles’s work to be a news report of mass destruction. Instead, Lambert makes a dramedy, putting more attention on the needy citizens of Lullaby, New Jersey, interested in their desires, dreams, and curiosity, with actual humor barely present during the viewing experience. It’s an odd choice, leaving “Brave New Jersey” underinflated and anti-climatic, though Lambert has select ideas that connect as intended.  Read the rest at Blu-ray.com