Splice (2009) ** out of *****

Director:  Vincenzo Natali
Writers:  Vincenzo Natali, Antoinette Terry Bryant, Doug Taylor
Cast:  Adrien Brody, Sarah Polley, Delphine Chaneac

Vincenzo Natali (director of the sci-fi cult flick "Cube," and the oddly and underrated off-beat comedy "Nothing") offers up the story of two scientists determined to create a human/animal hybrid all in the name of scientific curiosity.  Though they try to sympathize with the human element of their creation, it seems the animal within has a far more primal agenda.
This film suffers from a multitude of issues ranging from the technical failings of its use of CGI early on and towards the end, questionable character motives and intentions, and canyon sized plot holes.
It's no secret to the people who know me, that I cannot get behind the use of CG effects in a live action movie.  Until they are perfected, and actually have 3 dimensional depth, they almost always take me out of the element of fantasy.  "Splice" is no exception, especially when Dren ("Nilbog is Goblin spelled backwards!") is first created and then later evolves.
I enjoy watching Adrien Brody ("The Pianist") and Sarah Polley ("The Adventures of Baron Munchausen") perform on screen...usually.  Though this is by no means one of Brody's memorably shining cinematic moments, Polley is especially awful in this flick, and is in no way aided by her character's constantly back and forth intentions and lack of sympathy and consistent emotion.
When it comes to a driving story that has a science heavy focal point, it's, well, kind of important to include science.  Nothing, at any point, was ever really explained.  I suppose it was just assumed by all involved that each audience member would be familiar with the complexities of bioengineering and DNA structure.  I don't need a textbook manual explanation to be given to me to satisfy that aspect, but you need to offer up something...anything.
While "Splice" wasn't a complete waste of time (I had to view it in 4 parts, and was at least interested enough to continue from section to section), it's nothing more than an accidental exercise in being stupid and messy.