In the new film, The Fourth Kind... UFO's... alien abductions... and repressed memories get the recycled Hollywood treatment once again - in this latest foray into the ET alien visitor genre.   Only this time... the filmmakers have created a confusing and often amateurish mix of sci-fi elements... posing as a pseudo documentary... that's allegedly based on actual events.  

    Just as in Steven Speilberg's classic "Close Encounters of the Third Kind"... this film deals in otherworldly meetings between humans and creatures from outer space.  However while a close encounter of the third kind is simple contact with aliens... The Fourth Kind deals in actual abduction of human beings.

    Milla Jovovich stars as a psychologist in a remote area of Alaska.... who's patients are dealing with repressed memories that later prove to be alien abductions.  MIlla's  character herself is coping with her own repressed memories that may... or may not have to do with aliens as well.  That's pretty much all you need to know about this film as far as the feeble plotline goes.  What's more important to point out is the laughable way in which the filmmakers present this story. 

    The film consists of real actors re-enacting supposedly actual events ... that were caught via videotaped interviews.  The Fourth Kind inexplicably shows these scenes often in split screen, side by side.  The real actors are too melodramatic.... and the characters who are supposed to be real people... act as if they're rehearsing for their first school play.   

    Now, there are a few suspenseful moments... but, overall - the plotline, dialogue, and much of the acting are presented in such an amateurish fashion... that it evoked genuine laughter from the audience.   The Fourth Kind wants to be taken seriously... but, instead - it comes across as a campy... almost satirical parody of the alien genre. 

   And with that - The Fourth Kind gets a dismal 2 out of five stars... and that's being generous.

     For more info about TV entertainment reporter / film critic, Tim Estiloz visit : www.Examiner.com and video reviews at Boston Latino TV : http://bostonlatino.tv/ - Visit Tim's website at : www.TimEstiloz.com