 All insecure science teacher CHUCK HODGES wanted was to prove to his NASA-scientist girlfriend that he was made of the same right stuff as the hunky astronauts she worked with. So, when GAYLE gets stuck inside an alien virtual reality machine that's been trapping people since the 1930s, it’s Chuck's big chance to play the hero.
Unfortunately, the machine turns your innermost beliefs into reality, and Chuck finds himself in the bizarre world of a sci-fi serial, competing with RIP CRIMSON, a depression-era simpleton who is convinced he woke up in the future as some sort of invincible space hero.
When Chuck learns that Gayle was kidnapped by MAJOR WEIRD, a physicist from the 1950s bent on taking over this virtual world (with better special effects at his disposal), Chuck begrudgingly signs on as Rip’s “Man of Science” sidekick to save her.
But Rip lives by different rules than Chuck: he jumps out of rockets, dodges lasers, and fights robots with his fists, all because he doesn‘t know he can‘t. Determined to be the leading man, jealous Chuck takes every opportunity to tear Rip down. He finally succeeds when Chuck’s own negative thoughts begin manifesting themselves as killer CGI obstacles.
With Rip out of the picture, nothing can stop Chuck . . . except the nasty aliens that built this machine. You see, it's really a virtual battleground for a winner-takes-all fight to the death.
Now Chuck must learn to believe in himself and find a way to defeat the aliens -- because the fate of humanity lies in the balance, and Earth could really use a hero. |