[net.movies] notes on D.A.R.Y.L.

steven@ism70.UUCP (06/20/85)

D.A.R.Y.L.

Starring Michael McKean, Mary Beth Hurt and Barret Oliver.

Also starring Josef Sommer, Kathryn Walker, Colleen Camp and
Ron Frazier.

Directed by Simon Wincer. Screenplay by David Ambrose, Allan Scott
and Jeffrey Ellis. Produced by John Heyman.

Photographed by Frank Watts. Production Designed by Alan Cassie.
Edited by Adrian Carr. Music by Marvin Hamlisch. Visual Effects
Supervision by Michael Fink for Dream Quest Images.

From Paramount Pictures (1985).

Producer goes to the movie store. He wanders through the
Institutional Comedy aisle, passes up the Western department and
heads into the High Concept boutique.

He looks through the bargain bin and picks up some slightly-used
Nasty Government Guys from _W_a_r_G_a_m_e_s and _E_._T_.. He digs deep in the
back of one shelf and unearths a highly improbably airplane chase
from _F_i_r_e_f_o_x. He decides to splurge a little and chooses some
high-quality Lucas and Spielberg Brand characterizations, a
kindly scientist sort of like Obi-Wan Kenobi, and an adorable
suburban couple with the added bonus of being nicely played by
Michael McKean and Mary Beth Hurt.

But something's missing. He looks around a little and asks a
salesclerk for help. He needs a "hook" and hooks are very
expensive. They toss around some ideas and finally decide on a
kid with mysterious superhuman powers, a touch of Spielberg, a
hint of _S_u_p_e_r_m_a_n, a dash of _W_a_r_G_a_m_e_s, and a soupcon of
heavily-saccharined _T_e_r_m_i_n_a_t_o_r.

Producer puts down $15,000,000 and walks away happy and
satisfied.

Salesclerk calls out to the guys in the stockroom, "Boy did we
sell that idiot a bill of goods!!"

One and a half stars out of four.

kens@ISM780.UUCP (06/20/85)

In fairness, this is a childrens' movie and should be judged as
such.  Adults and college students will fall asleep, but my
6-year-old son's exit comment was:  "Wow, that was one of the
best movies I ever saw."

I am glad D.A.R.Y.L. came out when it did, however--by the time
my kid is 6 and 1/2, I'm sure he will have outgrown it.