Review #1312: Michael.
Cast:
John Travolta (Michael), Andie MacDowell (Dorothy Winters), William Hurt (Frank Quinlan), Bob Hoskins (Vartan Malt), Robert Pastorelli (Huey Driscoll), Jean Stapleton (Pansy Milbank), Teri Garr (Judge Esther Newberg), Wallace Langham (Bruce Craddock), and Joey Lauren Adams (Anita) Directed by Nora Ephron (#554 - Sleepless in Seattle and #1020 - You've Got Mail)
Review:
It may have already been said before, but it bears repeating: some movies are just easier to write about than others. Some are involving pieces that can deliver on laughs while others can do that and a bit of romance. This is not quite one of those films, as it seems I have stumbled onto yet another mediocre Nora Ephron effort, although at least it isn't one with some sort of following (sidenote: this was a fair hit with audiences upon release). It is fundamentally a mediocre movie, wracked by middling humor that seems to be the work of too many cooks at writer (there are four credits for screenplay, one of them being the director) while also being too hokey when trying to inspire any sense of passion. Its one highlight is a lead performance from Travolta, an angel with a devil-may-care attitude that occasionally imparts wisdom. He is eccentric enough to almost push this forward, but we're dealing with a road movie with otherwise empty others. That sure is a shame, because Hurt and MacDowell are capable actors, but it takes too much time to really build hints for a romance and it leads to a mild payoff that can't satisfy anyone. So they're both too cynical to open their hearts to love at first, big deal. The antics of its lead character almost seems enough for its own film without any attempts at comedy-drama, or even just a silly television movie. On the road with a fellow like its lead should be more interesting than what plays out here, aside from its one barfight scene and trips to random landmarks. The supporting cast is fine, but they aren't too special, mostly serving as one-hit wonders (such as a brash Hoskins) that carry the film with a mild relish (although the dog is cute, I guess). My expectations for this film were fairly middling, where I didn't think it would be a silly time or a particularly moving film - 105 minutes seems okay when it comes to mediocrity, I suppose. Once one gets behind the idea of Travolta playing a rascal from above (complete with wings), the possibilities could be endless (for hilarity or ridicule, you be the judge). It just seems a road movie isn't exactly what one has in mind (especially with how obvious its story beats are). Even a scene of a dog being run over doesnt have a pull, because one knows it's going to be reversed a few moments later anyway. If a film is about the journey and how it gets there, this is one where the journey seems to have a few too many dead ends. It needs more laughs and shocks to really pull something to the skies and above. At least this is the kind of film you could watch a few minutes on television without trouble -before either switching to find a better Travolta lead to view or going to sleep.
Overall, I give it 6 out of 10 stars.
