Harland Williams could give Jim Carrey a run for his money. He's like the 90's Don Knotts. He's so goofy and charismatic and sweet and funny that he actually saves this picture. Think I'm wrong? Just explain the plot to this film to anyone. It sucks. It's an updating of "The Reluctant Astronaut." Williams is all that makes it funny.

Williams plays computer nerd Fred Z. Randall who, through a series of problems - some caused by his dimwittedness, gets to go on the first manned space mission to Mars. Along for the ride are William Sadler ("Tales from the Crypt" films) as an obnoxious hotshot astronaut, Jessica Lundy (known to TV fans as Nina on "Party of 5," Gloria on "Hope and Gloria") as a life scientist and Ulysses, a chimpanzee. All this is merely fodder for Williams to have a nemesis, a love interest and - well, a chimpanzee. The co- stars try to work with Randall but mainly the stand around and look confused. It's obvious that Randall improvises a lot here and his co-stars know they are out of their league. Still, Sadler plays a good jerk and Lundy does actually convince us she is falling for Williams' goofball.

"Rocket Man" is directed by Stuart Gillard, a former actor who is now mainly a TV director. His work translates well to the small screen. Still his film looks okay. It just gets a little bogged down at times. The special effects are okay (but obvious at times) and the film allows Randall to goof too much without seeming to capture all of his true brilliance. Funny, the film needs more opportunities to be insane. Some of this, of course, may be the fault of scripters Craig Mazin, Greg Erb and Producer Oren Aviv.

"Rocket Man" came out when news coverage was all about scientists proclaiming that they had found evidence of life on Mars, a subject touched upon in the film. This film has no life in it at all, except Williams. He's a freakshow unto himself. This Disney comedy, in the tradition of all those 70's Disney flicks, allows Williams to roam free and be crazy. That, at least, is fun and humorous to watch for us adults. Kids, I think, will get more bored than us at times when the film gets dull.

Note:

Also with Beau Bridges, Peter Onarati, Shelley Duvall and Gaylord Sartaine

Script and story by Mazin and Erb. Story also by Aviv. Music by Michael Tavera. Pop songs by The Knack and Elton John. Willie Nelson is mentioned in a joke.

There is a scene after the final credits.

Locations filmed in Houston, Texas.

Williams is a former forest ranger and stand up comedian. He is also a trained animator (still trying to get a project off the ground) and a writer of a series of childrens books featuring a brontosaurus named Lickety Split. In this film, Williams lampoons Jiminy Cricket and the Cowardly Lion, among others.

Note: Review written in 1998

More of Lodger's reviews indexed alphabetically! Just click your favorite letter to go there.

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

HOME