While surely a salve for true believers everywhere, this second X-Files feature film, coming ten years after its predecessor, is something of a curious production. Wholly interested in intensive definition of its lead characters (Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, played by David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson), the film virtually abandons imaginative plot developments in favour of a personality piece on the two former FBI agents.

That such a turn might be disappointing to hardcore conspiracy fanatics is hardly the point; Duchovny, and especially Anderson, have grown wonderfully into their own as actors over the six years since the long-running series ended, and I Want To Believe offers each a chance to stretch their cinematic legs whilst dusting off a pair of fully formed, eternally interesting characters. By surrounding them with left of centre actor choices - Billy Connolly as a psychic, paedophilic priest; Alvin "Xzibit" Joiner as a straight-laced FBI toughie; Amanda Peet as a wannabe believer to rival Mulder - and a tight, dialogue-heavy script, creator Chris Carter allows their characterisations to drive the film, much to its benefit.

Unfortunately, rather than using a professional (as he had with veteran TV director Rob Bowman on the previous film), Carter also directs. While a capable filmmaker, Carter appears lost in many would-be electrifying action sequences, and the film's pacing misses several key beats necessary to integrate its two connected-but-separate plot lines - neither of which is particularly well-formed in the first place.

However, at its best, the film absolutely hums with kinetic energy, becoming a terrifying, emotionally affecting experience that lives at the core of what The X-Files does best.