Fireball (2010)

Director: Kristoffer Tabori
Writer: Kraig Wenmen
TV air date: 2009
Cast: Aleks Paunovic, Lexa Doig, Ian Somerhalder, and Colin Cunningham

Tyler Draven (Aleks Paunovic) is a former football pro turned criminal who’s recently been thrown behind bars. After a prison fire, Draven discovers that he has a unique new ability which can help him fuel his revenge against those who’ve done him wrong.

Paunovic plays a true gritty villain with his hulking appearance and his fearless and terrifying demeanor. Though Draven has limited lines in the film, and we scarcely get to know him, every time he’s on the screen you know he means business. After he begins utilizing his newly found fire-wielding ability, he becomes pure menace and we could care less who he is and what he’s after – we just want to see him blow stuff up!

There are two main players who aim to figure out and stop the terror caused by Draven. FBI Agent Lee Cooper (Somerhalder) and Fire Inspector Ava Williams (Doig) form the unlikely pair of a small town girl and a big city hotshot. Doig is impressive as Williams as she spews scientific lingo when attempting to explain Draven’s phenomena. Cooper, though not as convincing of an FBI agent as a playboy, is amusing and has good chemistry with Doig.

The story is straightforward sci-fi blow-stuff-up action. I didn’t find myself caring too much for any of the characters, and even found myself begging for Draven to take out some (mainly goofball reporter Tim Timmonds played by Colin Cunningham). There were some decent effects for it being a made-for-TV movie, although the few bad ones it had were plain awful. I would have liked to see more of the fireballs though!

The movie may not be the next Terminator of sci-fi actioners, but it is great explosive fun. The idea of man manipulating fire is a cool concept that is always fun so long as the effects can back it up. Tyler Draven is a villain that I would have liked to get to know better, so much that I wouldn’t mind seeing him appear in a sequel. Overall Fireball is a decent and fun TV flick with some cool action, but those looking for deeper elements may be disappointed.
IMDb | Trailer (YouTube)