Films are a product of the entertainment industry, designed to uplift the viewer's mood. However, there are instances where a viewer's perception of a film is influenced by their current mood rather than the quality of the film itself. Such films, though deemed failures in a traditional sense, can still be enjoyable under the right circumstances. The author of this review had a similar experience with Phenomenon, a 1996 science fiction comedy directed by Jon Turtletaub.
The film follows the story of George Malley (played by John Travolta), a quiet car mechanic from a small town in North California. George's life takes a turn when he is struck by a mysterious beam of light on his 37th birthday, granting him extraordinary mental abilities. As George navigates his newfound powers, he tries to maintain a sense of normalcy in his life despite growing fear and suspicion from the townsfolk. With the support of his best friend Nate (Forest Whitaker) and Doc Brunder (Robert Duvall), George faces additional challenges when the government takes an interest in his abilities.
Phenomenon may not be the most intellectually stimulating or groundbreaking film, drawing parallels to classic science fiction stories like Flowers for Algernon. Director Jon Turtletaub focuses more on the romantic elements of the plot, resulting in a film that can be viewed as either a heartwarming celebration of human values or a clichéd Hollywood production, depending on the viewer's perspective. The standout performances from John Travolta, Robert Duvall, and Forest Whitaker elevate the film, despite its flaws in plot structure and plausibility. While not exceptional, Phenomenon achieves a level of watchability thanks to the strong acting performances.
Overall Rating: 5/10 (++)
(Note: This review was originally posted on the Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.films.reviews on November 4th, 2003)
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