chin@ucbvax.ARPA (12/06/84)
From: chin (David Chin) This was gleamed from a "sneak preview", so some of it may change by the time Starman actually is released. Rating: 3.5/4 Synopsis: Starman is billed as a "Science Fiction Love Story". Jeff Bridges plays an alien who takes up the Voyager probe's invitation to visit earth, is shot down, and clones a human body by analysis of chromosomes in some hair. This body is a replica of that of the husband of a recently breaved widow, played by Karen Allen. The story is about the many humorous/touching/suspens- ful (in that order) episodes the two encounter as the Starman enlists Karen Allen's help in driving to a rendevous with his mother ship. Allen of course gradually falls in love with the Starman along the way. (Note: I didn't put a spoiler warning for the above because it does not detract anything from the movie). Critique: This is the movie that Close Encounters tried to be, but failed. It's an ET for adults (no cutesy aliens ala Speilburg/Lucas here). Special Effects are minimimal and used only in appropriate situations. The acting by Bridges and Allen is very good. The script is spotty with some great humorous skits but intersperesed with some really hokey lines (e.g. the Starman states that the best quality of humanity is that "you are at your best when things are at their worse" which elicited an unintended chuckle from the audience). Although the plot is completely predictable, the love story is still quite believable largely through the superior acting of the two principles. Unfortunately, all the other parts are completely cardboard, ranging from a trigger-happy, totally inhumane military officer, to an eccentric, bleeding-heart-liberal scientist (contrasted with stereotype scientists in white lab coats). This is a science fiction film with a large human element for people that like warm humorous love stories and not Special Effects for its own sake. David Chin ucbvax!chin chin@BERKELEY