Review of Phenomenon (1983) by Ben P — 08 Mar 2009
John Travolta sees something that might be a meteor falling to earth, and then develops SUPERPOWERS. Town freaks out, possibly afraid that he's going to try and become their ruler, or at least grow his hair long and start playing rock and roll or something.
(It does feel a bit like that kind of town, I'm just saying) and then....well, I don't want to give anything away, but the film sort of feels like an updated riff on the terrific book FLOWERS FOR ALGERNON (which was also made into a movie in the 1960's).
John Travolta does a good job, but his character's arc is more interesting as a metaphor for other experiences than it is in its own right, and the mystery of how he got his abilities (was it aliens? Was it a brain tumor? Is really just a macguffin.
This review of Phenomenon (1983) was written by Ben P on 08 Mar 2009.
Phenomenon has generally received mixed reviews.
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