Reward Waits At End Of Slow-Going Journey
If the focus of CBS’ “Journey of the Heart” Sunday at 9 were more on musical genius Tony DeBlois rather than on Cybill Shepherd as his nagging stage mother, the biographical tale would be a notable strive-and-succeed tale.
Unfortunately, Shepherd makes it awfully hard to like this movie, especially when she puts on a less-than-plausible imitation of Mama Rose from “Gypsy.”
Her Mama Rose is named Janice Johnston, and she’s worse than the ultimate obnoxious stage mother. She screeches, yells, complains, nudges and whines her way through the movie. You can’t help but cringe each time she gives a lecture about the merits of practice, practice, practice.
Johnston is convinced that her blind son, Tony (Chris Demetral), is a musical genius. She wants to pull herself, Tony and another son, Ray (well played by Blake Heron), out of the depths of poverty to realize her dream of Tony making it in the concert world.
There is only one reason to embark on this “Journey”: Demetral. He is a gem as the blind genius who was once diagnosed as being autistic. His character’s battle to overcome his handicaps is inspiring.
Try to stick by the movie to the end to catch the real Tony perform; that’s a treat. “Journey,” however, is as slow as a long and winding road. It requires much patience.
Even Stephen Lang as a love interest does little to improve the movie. Shepherd’s Johnston is so dislikable you wonder why Lang’s character wants anything to do with this highly charged person.
Mama Rose was all heart with a dollop of charm. Shepherd’s version is just a big mouth without soul.
Highlights
“Skate International Champions Finals,” FOX tonight at 8 and Sunday at 2 p.m.: Michelle Kwan, Tara Lipinski, Elvis Stojko and Todd Eldredge are among the skaters hoping to jump their way to millions in prize money. This competition takes place in Canada, giving powerful Stojko home-court advantage.
“Dangerous Minds,” ABC tonight at 8: The classroom drama in which Annie Potts gets to act tough as an inner-city high school teacher moves to Saturdays.
Few folks watched the preachy series on Monday. It doesn’t look like many are apt to catch it on Saturdays. In any event, the hour shows the effect of Tibetan monks on inner-city school kids. For many, it’s their first megadose of nonviolence.
“The 1997 ESPY Awards,” ABC tonight at 1 a.m.: The ESPN awards show, repeated for you non-cable folks, is a powerhouse. It’s full of emotional moments, especially when Sidney Poitier gives the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage to Muhammad Ali.
Make an appointment to tune in.
Winners include Olympic stars Michael Johnson and Amy Van Dyken, and Joe Torre, who’s named Coach-Manager of the Year. Bill Cosby hosts a salute to Jackie Robinson.
“Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman,” ABC Sunday at 7: The sexy superhero (Dean Cain) and his popular sidekick (Teri Hatcher) return from hiatus with an action-packed two-part episode featuring the seemingly invulnerable Tempus (Lane Davies).
This time Tempus sets his sights on becoming president with a futuristic device that just might make his dreams come true and cause nightmares for Lois and Clark.
“TV’s All-Time No. 1’s,” FOX Sunday at 7: Highest-rated episodes are remembered in this hour hosted by Shelley Long, who starred in the top show “Cheers.” Included are a look at popular commercials.
“Robert Ludlum’s ‘The Apocalypse Watch,”’ ABC Sunday and Monday at 9: Double agents, moles, a high-tech brainwashing machine and lots of cloak-and-dagger stuff have been thrown into this spy thriller. Fans of the genre will wallow in this post-Cold War story about a neo-Nazi plot to take over the world.
Part 1 introduces viewers to the neo-Nazis and their master plan. You’ll also meet the spies (Virginia Madsen, Patrick Bergin and John Shea) hoping to squelch the evil group’s plot.
The story’s inconsistencies are many.
Yet in the end, you’ll get some satisfaction when the bad guys get their long-deserved comeuppance.
Cable Calls
“Big Bully” (1996), HBO tonight at 8: Tom Arnold plays the bully who tortured Rick Moranis’ character as a child. In this movie, the bully comes back to wreak havoc on the character, now an adult writer.
It’s supposed to be a comedy, but you’ll keep wandering where the laughs are.
“Dead Man’s Gun,” SHOW Sunday at 8: This trilogy returns to the Old West for tales of folks who come in contact with a demon gun. The best of the three is John Ritter as an egotistical showman.
John Glover and Matt Frewer star in the average “Fool’s Gold,” and Frank Whaley appears in predictable “My Brother’s Keeper.” This is strictly for Western fans.
Movie Marquee
“Boomerang” (1992), ABC tonight at 9: Eddie Murphy’s attempt at being a leading man in a light drama backfired. He’s bland and boorish as a womanizer who meets his match (Robin Givens.)
“The Fugitive” (1993), NBC Sunday at 8:30: Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones turn the big-screen tale of television’s Dr. Richard Kimble into a nonstop chase-action movie. Repeat.