Michael . Tucson Weekly . 01-02-97

Michael

DIRECTED BY: Nora Ephron

REVIEWED: 01-02-97

Save your money--every redeeming aspect of this film can be seen in the previews. It's just plain bad. I think it was written in six days, and then they rested on the seventh and never got around to finishing it. It's supposed to be a heart-warming tale about two tabloid journalists and an "angel expert" who go off to Iowa in search of Michael, who's shacked up in a place called the Milk Bottle Motel. Michael, on the other hand, has presumably been sent to Earth to complete a few final miracles before being confined to Heaven, which apparently does not have sugar, for the rest of eternity. William Hurt (as always) looks pained throughout, but we can hardly blame him. Andie MacDowell also stars, in a reprisal of all the worst moments of Groundhog Day and Four Weddings and a Funeral. And the only amazing aspect of Travolta's performance is the amount of weight he gained (and lost) for the one scene in which he appears with his gut hanging low. If there's a shard of genuine emotion anywhere in this film, you'd need a miracle to find it.

--Mari Wadsworth

Capsule Reviews
Michael

Other Films by Nora Ephron
You've Got Mail

Film Vault Suggested Links
Chasing Amy
Grease
Hope Floats

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