Forever Young (B+ or 3/4 stars)
Mel Gibson stars in director Steve Miner's 1992 sci-fi romantic comedy/drama, 'Forever Young'; and it is written by JJ Abrams. In 1939, Dan McCormick (Gibson), a handsome 30-something yr. old government test pilot, fears one thing: how to propose to his patient childhood sweetheart, Helen (Isabel Glasser, lovely). When Helen is morbidly struck by a car & falls deep into a coma, Dan - with no family to speak of - decides that, with nothing else to live for, he volunteers for a top secret, ground-breaking cryogenic experiment in frozen, suspended animation which will be carried-out by his scientist friend, Harry (George Wendt). Problem is, circumstances occur which prevent his planned awakening, which would be one year later.
The plot flashes forwards to 1992, when 2 rascally boys living near the Army base find the long-forgotten metal capsule in which Dan's body lies frozen {I know, the story is bonkers, but go with it}. They accidentally release Dan; then run away in fear. The bewildered & disoriented Dan, finding the ID left behind by 10 yr. old Nat (Elijah Wood), shows up at the boy's home. In no time, Dan ends up charming Nat's single mom/nurse, Claire (Jamie Lee Curtis), with his old-school gentlemanly conduct, manners & valor. But locating ANYONE from Dan's remote past {it's been 53 years} becomes crucial when the side effects of his long cryogenic hibernation set-in --rapid aging. A race against time & an achingly romantic conclusion ensues.
While I recognize that this film's cryogenic narrative is beyond nutty, there is an earnestness about it that I found really appealing and, the performances go a long way in making it all go down smoother than it has any right to be. In the end, the movie turns out to be more of a tear-jerking romance than an airtight sci-fi flick, but I didn't mind that, at all. It is fun watching Dan non-cynically confront the fish-out-of-water elements; like discovering TVs, computers, strip malls, etc. The pacing is spot-on; moving at a good clip for its 102 fleet minutes {a few chase scenes are sprinkled in to raise the action level}. And I enjoyed the film mostly as an old-school throwback type of melodrama that I've loved from so many film of yesteryear.
Gibson's Dan is an example of that generation of gallant army men of the 1930s/40s who would soon fight for honor & country in WWII -- many men like Dan don't exist anymore. JJ Abrams' script hones in on Daniel's regret & anguish in never finding the right words or time to ask Helen to marry him; while also pointing out how love can be lost ... and regained. I enjoyed the sweet chemistry Gibson has with Jamie Lee Curtis' Claire {who laments unrequited romance with Dan, while also recognizing that he'll never not love Nancy from his past}. 'Forever Young' has its heart in the right place, and there is an emotionally stirring moment late in the proceedings that, when paired with Jerry Goldsmith's soaring, swoony music score, drew tears from my eyes -- it is SO lovely. To this, Forever Young's mix of sci-fi fantasy & romance is sappy, but wholly engaging throughout. I loved it.
The plot flashes forwards to 1992, when 2 rascally boys living near the Army base find the long-forgotten metal capsule in which Dan's body lies frozen {I know, the story is bonkers, but go with it}. They accidentally release Dan; then run away in fear. The bewildered & disoriented Dan, finding the ID left behind by 10 yr. old Nat (Elijah Wood), shows up at the boy's home. In no time, Dan ends up charming Nat's single mom/nurse, Claire (Jamie Lee Curtis), with his old-school gentlemanly conduct, manners & valor. But locating ANYONE from Dan's remote past {it's been 53 years} becomes crucial when the side effects of his long cryogenic hibernation set-in --rapid aging. A race against time & an achingly romantic conclusion ensues.
While I recognize that this film's cryogenic narrative is beyond nutty, there is an earnestness about it that I found really appealing and, the performances go a long way in making it all go down smoother than it has any right to be. In the end, the movie turns out to be more of a tear-jerking romance than an airtight sci-fi flick, but I didn't mind that, at all. It is fun watching Dan non-cynically confront the fish-out-of-water elements; like discovering TVs, computers, strip malls, etc. The pacing is spot-on; moving at a good clip for its 102 fleet minutes {a few chase scenes are sprinkled in to raise the action level}. And I enjoyed the film mostly as an old-school throwback type of melodrama that I've loved from so many film of yesteryear.
Gibson's Dan is an example of that generation of gallant army men of the 1930s/40s who would soon fight for honor & country in WWII -- many men like Dan don't exist anymore. JJ Abrams' script hones in on Daniel's regret & anguish in never finding the right words or time to ask Helen to marry him; while also pointing out how love can be lost ... and regained. I enjoyed the sweet chemistry Gibson has with Jamie Lee Curtis' Claire {who laments unrequited romance with Dan, while also recognizing that he'll never not love Nancy from his past}. 'Forever Young' has its heart in the right place, and there is an emotionally stirring moment late in the proceedings that, when paired with Jerry Goldsmith's soaring, swoony music score, drew tears from my eyes -- it is SO lovely. To this, Forever Young's mix of sci-fi fantasy & romance is sappy, but wholly engaging throughout. I loved it.