Podrug (Dark Passage
) jumps on the 2012 apocalyptic bandwagon with this flimsy thriller. An eruption of methane in the Gulf of Mexico leads to a collapse of civilization throughout the Americas, though pockets of high tech still exist. As the United States goes to war with Canada, astrobiologist Caden Montez, former CIA chief Allen Holt, and ancient ballplayer Tah Heen are brought together to stop a threat to the world’s water supply. Podrug throws in numerous new age ideas, conspiracy theories, time travel, and were-jaguars, shifting the action among first-century Mexico, ancient Vietnam, and near-future Las Vegas in a mishmash that never really holds together. The style is light and breezy, making this tale of global panic more of a mindless diversion. (Mar.)
