'Category 6' story line loses power

Despite packing a powerful message, the film's plot is predictable.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
CBS should be commended for scheduling "Category 6: Day of Destruction," a four-hour miniseries based on the premise that the nation's electric utilities have imperiled public welfare for the sake of higher profits.
In the film, a calamity unfolds when three enormous weather systems head toward Chicago, creating the worst storm in history -- and, along the way, cause the nation's inadequate power grid to collapse, preventing anyone from getting advance word of the disaster.
It is unusual for a "big event" program on a major network to slam big business in such a pointed way. But this is a crucial issue, said executive producer Robert Sertner. He cited a line delivered by Dianne Wiest as the secretary of energy: "We've become a first-world nation with a third-world power grid."
"Deregulation has caused us to use the power grid in a way it was never designed to be used," Sertner said. "Another blackout like we experienced last year is not a question of if but when, and how much worse will it be."
Noted. And thanks for the warning.
Predictable
On the other hand, a disaster movie as agitprop doesn't necessarily make for satisfying viewing. It stars such fine actors as Weist, Brian Dennehy and Randy Quaid (as well as lesser lights Thomas Gibson and Nancy McKeon), and boasts a surfeit of CGI special effects: Much of Chicago eventually gets leveled, along with Las Vegas and the St. Louis Arch.
Even so, "Category 6" is formulaic and predictable.
Expect creaky dialogue like "I got a bad feeling about this one" and "I guess I knew the wake-up call was coming, but did it have to come at such a high cost?"
It includes an expectant mother in danger and a husband who cheats on his good-hearted wife but learns his lesson.
The film packs a powerful message. But as drama, it's strictly low wattage.