Review of Look Who's Talking (1989) by Manny C — 28 Nov 2012

In the 80's, John Travolta mainly took on roles that showcased his, the, hot bod and not much else, blatantly forgetting that it wasn't sexual heat alone that made Travolta shine in the classic Saturday Night Fever. In Look Who's Talking, it's not his body that's on display, it's his warmth and wit. Unfortunately Look Who's Talking isn't a home run farce. Written and directed by Amy Heckerling (of Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Clueless fame so seriously WTF), Look Who's Talking is a tired affair and Travolta looks equally drained. But his sensitivity is front and center. As cab driver James, he happily helps unmarried and pregnant Mollie (Kirstie Alley then of tv's Cheers) to the delivery room. Hen strikes up a friendship and is later babysitting and offering moral support, while also living as cheaply as possible so his old man (Abe Vigoda) can live in a decent retirement home.

Mollie is raising her son, Mickey alone, but comes around to the realization that James is a keeper, especially in comparison to the yuppie scumbag who got her pregnant (George Segal). This she gets from Mickey himself, who, even though he's only an infant, has the voice of Bruce Willis narrating his thoughts. It's only ha-ha for the kids.

There's a scene where Travolta joins Alley in an impromptu sing along to Gene Pitney's 'Town Without Pity'. Travolta is clearly having a ball, and his joy and spontaneity remind us of what makes him such a star before he delved into crap like Two of a Kind and Staying Alive. It's unfortunate he steals a movie not worth stealing.