Travolta Rescues Uninspired ‘Michael’

Wed., Jan. 22, 1997

Patrice Williamson, Rogers

Editor’s note: Patrice Williamson from Rogers will be filling in for Jeff Sackmann, Our Generation’s regular movie reviewer, starting next week. Jeff will be back Feb. 12.

John Travolta’s new film “Michael” definitely shows the actor in a whole new light, but I couldn’t stop myself from wanting to flip the switch off. This movie did not live up to its potential and fell flat in both comedy and drama.

The main plot in “Michael” is one of a Chicago-based tabloid in search of yet another outlandish headline. Two story-driven reporters, played by William Hurt and Robert Pastorelli, receive a letter in the mail from a little old lady claiming that an angel has been living with her for the past six months.

The two decide to investigate and bring along an angel specialist and dog trainer (Andie MacDowell) to help. It’s obvious from the moment that MacDowell and Hurt start arguing that the two will fall in love, which is the basis for the predictable secondary story line.

The audience’s introduction to Michael is mildly humorous but, at the same time, extremely disgusting. John Travolta really had to let himself go for this performance; he looked like a filthy, bloated, Elvis impersonator with wings.

Despite his nasty appearance and implied odor, Michael is very inventive and quite the ladies man.

Although the movie was fairly slow-moving, the actors shouldn’t take the blame. Fingers should point in the direction of the writers. Most of what were supposed to be amusing lines didn’t flow smoothly - or the jokes just weren’t funny.

Besides, the idea of angels being grimy, beer guzzlers is fairly new. Had the writers done more with this approach, they could have avoided seeming like the latest in a long line of copycat movies.

Fans of John Travolta will probably enjoy seeing him play the hairy angel, but fans of the the supporting cast will no doubt be disappointed. None of the characters were complex nor were they developed all that well. MacDowell’s and Hurt’s love affair was actually pretty boring and Pastorelli’s sole purpose in the movie seemed to be carrying around a small dog. That may sound funny, but it wasn’t.

Michael is a fun movie only because of Travolta’s appearance; don’t expect a lot of excitement or comedy. I chuckled a few times during the film, but the couple sitting beside me didn’t laugh at all. This is definitely a movie that should be viewed during a cheap matinee showing.

Grade: C

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