Review of Love Field (1992) by Peaceboy O — 20 Jun 2006

Best in Show: Michelle Pfieffer.

One for the future: Dennis Haysbert.

Stand-out scene: Hiding across from the bus station.

Brainer or no-brainer: Brainer.

Stands up to one viewing or repeated?: Repeated.

DVD commentary any good?: n/a.

TV.

A Sunday afternoon slushie maybe but this gentle love story delivers on most fronts in its portrayal of early Sixties black and white integration. Lurene Hallett (Michelle Pfeiffer) is a Jackie Kennedy obsessive who resolves to attend John F. Kennedy's funeral to support her idol. En route she crosses paths with Paul Cater (24's Dennis Haysbert who took over the role from Denzel Washington at the eleventh hour) who she suspects of having abducted the young child he's accompanied by (Stephanie MaFadden in her one and only movie role). When she learns the truth the threesome soon become fugitives from the law and continue their journey cross-country encountering friends and foes alike on the way. Director Johnathan Kaplan, who has spent his more recent years directing in TV on the likes of ER, captures the early Sixties setting effectively and the dated approach of the plot suits the sensibilities of the time well. It must have been difficult for Haysbert to join the production in the manner he did and it's to his immense credit that he is accomplished in the role. His character is not dissimilar to the one he played in Far from Heaven, which also had a 'homage to the Golden Age of cinema' feel, and his acting style suits this down to the ground. Pfeiffer is convincing as the Jackie Kennedy fanatic and you're rooting for her as soon as her no good layabout husband fails to back her up on her quest to see JFK buried. The tacked-on ending aside, screenwriter Don Roos (who also co-produced) makes a good job of the story and as a relationships road movie this has a lot going for it.