It would be interesting to see this movie with Powder, another movie I recently reviewed. They are both about similar characters that are the victims of intolerance, suspicion, and abuse in one form or another. John Travolta is excellent as George, a garage mechanic that suddenly has an increased appetite for knowledge. Put yourself amidst intellectually inferior people and you will see for yourself how George is treated. People are very quick to accuse, get angry, and be jealous in real life, just as they were in this movie. Robert Duvall and Forest Whitaker lend good support as the only two faithful friends he has. Kyra Sedgwick is your typical small minded (going nowhere) girl you'd find in Anytown, USA. I had a huge problem with her abusive mistreatment of George and George's tolerance of her obnoxiousness. She was a huge turn-off. Somehow her sweetness is drawn out by the new George. The kids are appropriately of the cute TV variety. The ending is marred by a soapy climax and conclusion, and I gather that most people didn't expect it to go in the direction it did. There are some good plot threads and the final scene is poignant; I just wish it could have gotten there in a different manner. **1/2 of 4 stars.
Review of Phenomenon
