Review: Mark Wahlberg discovers he's special in ‘Infinite’

The new Mark Wahlberg and Antoine Fuqua sci-fi action film “Infinite” is based on a book that the author self-published in 2009 with the goal of getting a movie adaptation made

The new Mark Wahlberg movie “ Infinite ” poses an intoxicating scenario for all down-on-their-luck know-it-alls: What if you’re actually a reincarnated immortal who is not just the smartest and the best at everything but also necessary to save humanity? In the world of Hollywood wish fulfillment premises, women get to discover they’re secret princesses. Men get to discover they’re secret geniuses who can wield a katana while riding a motorcycle in a high-speed chase. (I know, I know, there are exceptions). This particular story is based on a book, “The Reincarnationist Papers” by D. Eric Maikranz, which the author self-published in 2009 with the goal of getting a movie adaptation made. He offered up a cash reward to a reader who could connect him with a literary agent, a publisher or a Hollywood executive. That it worked, and attracted the likes of Wahlberg and director Antoine Fuqua, is almost as far-fetched as “Infinite” itself. And yes, “Infinite” is infinitely silly, but it’s not without some pleasures, many of which come from Wahlberg delivering lines like “are you talking about reincarnation?” and “I’ve been analyzed in every way possible” in that way that only Mark Wahlberg can — with manic earnestness that under the right circumstances can be passed off as intentional comedy. And although this is overall a sincere endeavor, the existence of Jason Mantzoukas playing a hedonistic sadist with impeccable eyeliner and a glam rock wardrobe even invites the possibility that the filmmakers aren’t asking us to take this too seriously either. And there are some thrilling stunts with cars and motorcycles that may have Tom Cruise and Vin Diesel sending some notes to their respective “Mission: Impossible” and “Fast & Furious” producers wondering why they don’t have that in their new films.