this review contain a partial spoiler . shallow from the outset and d. o. a. at least start a if it might be a slick and entertain piece of nonsense like fincher the game . it central character ( dennis quaid ) suffers from a nightmarish sequence of event that appear to be set up a twisted and cunning thriller . but the plot rattle along at too great a pace and lead to a dramatic twist not half way through and when the character learn that he have be poison and have only 1 2 day to live . and this and simply and be too big a twist to add casually to a story . once this have happen and the film only chance of success be if it treat the psychology of someone in this situation a it principal and indeed and it only subject matter represent but d. o. a. continue a if this be just a normal revelation like any other you might usually encounter in a thriller . the problem be two fold represent firstly and quaid action do not convince a what someone be his situation would be likely to do while and secondly and even if they do convince and it hard to care about what happen next when the most significant point of plot have already be prematurely resolve . the rest of the film be pretty standard fare for a film of this sort and but make more tedious than usual by the character slightly treat predicament and which logically dwarf the event the film be interested in . dennis quaid and in the lead role and doesn not convince either a a burnt out professor or a a man who be destine to die represent meg ryan be and as often and ditzy and annoy . another negative feature be the ugly 80 soundtrack . watch the game instead and which from similar root remain tight and character driven and whereas d. o. a. drift into development that only undermine it own premise . a the premise be itself quite intrigue and it a shame to see it drown in a surplus of over cooked plot .