 "Photo: Lionel Hahn<br><i>MCT Campus</i>")
It's been over a year since the world has heard anything from Jack Bauer. Fans of Fox's hit series "24" may not get to plunge into a new full season until January, but the network rewards patience with "24: Redemption," a two-hour television movie designed to bridge the gap between seasons six and seven, which will air Nov. 23.
The film finds Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) in Africa, assaulted on both sides by a militant guerilla leader trying to kidnap children for his terrorist army and a subpoena from the United States government about his questionable interrogation methods.
Jack spends his time in "Redemption" trying to get as many kids as he can out of the turbulent country. Across the Atlantic though, the political situation is turbulent as the episode simultaneously follows the hours before the inauguration of president-elect Allison Taylor (Cherry Jones).
"Redemption" retains the show's real-time strategy, covering an exact two-hour space. The most amazing thing about "24" is how much political intrigue and how many shoot-outs and intensely personal character moments can actually take place in two hours.
This isn't necessarily meant to be sarcastic. Writer Howard Gordon does a very good job at balancing the plot lines and keeping the pace up. The plot, especially the with African children, feels at times over-simplified and one-dimensional. It treads the complex issue of child armies and guerrilla warriors with less interest than Edward Zwick's "Blood Diamond," which was of a similar vein, though it spends plenty of episode time examining the issue.
As a bridge and as a kind of bonus feature for fans, "Redemption" should seem completely satisfactory. It is well packaged and executed. Sutherland clearly enjoys being back as Bauer, even if he's not given many big moments in the special.
Good supporting work from Cherry Jones and several brief moments with a villainous Jon Voight give hope for well-constructed characters in the new season.
Production values meet the predictably high standards, with some lovely handheld camera work and a nice orange tint for the African scenes matched with a grey tint for the Washington scenes to help set ambience. The action scenes allow Bauer to show off with some impressive - if mildly implausible - gunplay that never deviates too far out of the suspension of disbelief.
While "Redemption" may be perfectly adequate in nearly every department, it doesn't feel particularly exhilarating as a standalone feature. The two-hour format allows a complete story to be told, but that story feels very rushed and incomplete at times.
Mostly, "Redemption" seems to exist only for fans of the show, and to remind everyone else that "24" is still around and will be coming back soon. It's a tantalizing way to preview a season, but there's depressingly little that generates real excitement.
"24" continues to be an exquisitely produced television show, combining sharp political writing with strong suspense. "Redemption" hints that the show could hit a stride upon return this January, but as great as this two hour special is to look at, it feels a little too limp and doesn't pack quite the punch.
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