Jack (1996)

You won't be disappointed!

Good story, Not enough for a whole film

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

This movie is to Francis Ford Coppola's directing resume what Always was to Steven Spielberg's in the sense you can't believe this movie was directed by a cinematic genius, as it has the feel of a made-for- TV movie. To some extent Coppola should be blamed. Aside from directing some of the all-time greats "Godfather 1&2" and "Apocalypse Now", he himself is a talented writer with "Patton" and "The Godfather" screenplays. So he should have known this script wasn't worthy of his enormous talent, and should have made suggestions on how to improve it. The man is a genius, surely that's the least he could have done. You also can't fault him to some extent, however as he has said he only made this film to work with Robin Williams. I can see his desire for that. Williams was a genius in front of the camera just the same as Coppola is behind it. But why didn't he direct "The Birdcage" which came out around the same time and had a much better use of Robin Williams' talent? Coppola can direct comedy successfully "Peggy Sue Got Married" is a wonderful film. He knows what is funny and what works and what doesn't. It's rumored Coppola told Williams he wanted to work with him and when Williams got the screenplay for Jack he would only do it if Coppola agreed to direct it. But was Coppola really that desperate to work with Williams as to direct him in a so-so movie? Surely he could have suggested he and Williams team up for something far more worthy of their amazing talents. Jack has some sweetness that is appealing and not to be ignored, and the acting is decent overall. Coppola at least directs most of his actors well except for the obnoxious Fran Drescher in a supporting role. What in the world is Fran Drescher doing in a Francis Ford Coppola movie? Many Oscar winning actresses would have been proud to work with the genius behind The Godfather and Apocalypse Now even for a small supporting role and he gets one of (if not) the most obnoxious comedienne's of her era for the part. Why not go for Marisa Tomei, or Julia Roberts, or even the director's sister Talia Shire for the same part? He might as well have directed Roseanne Barr in the same role. Coppola is too talented to direct someone as bad at acting as Drescher. The rest of the cast including Coppola favorite Diane Lane, Brian Kerwin, Jennifer Lopez and Bill Cosby all do fine in their roles and give good performances, but they are not given anything special or memorable or even funny from a wasted script. Coppola doesn't even know how to direct Williams to do anything special. Williams plays a ten year old, but he doesn't act like one, he essentially just plays himself. If this movie is about him as a ten year old he should at least act like one and Coppola should have been able to direct him as such. Tom Hanks did the same thing wonderfully almost a decade earlier in Big where he was directed by Penny Marshall also a talented director but not even on the same level of talent as Coppola. Also Coppola makes the mistake at times of letting his movie turn into bad outtakes from a Farrely Brothers movie. I mean farting, eating gross-out stuff, and ten year old boys looking at porn magazines. The Farrely's can get away with that because that is their signature trademark, the same just can't be said about one of the cinema's all time great director's. Jack is not without it's charm, though it really is sad that the great Francis Ford Coppola wouldn't wait to direct Robin Williams in a much better movie. The result is a movie that tries and occasionally succeeds, but should have been a masterpiece with the star and director attached. Hopefully all involved enjoyed working with Coppola enough to ignore the fact that this is a mediocre, mostly forgettable film, and unless I see a worse early Coppola directing effort, the worse film of the great director's work. Godfather III is on par with it's far superior predecessors as far as Coppola's work goes compared to Jack.

Jack is a mediocre movie with a good storyline and a great cast.The script at times felt like it was trying too hard to be both a comedy and a drama,by having one scene with really goofy humour and the next being really depressing,and it made the movie feel messy because neither the comedy or the drama was subtle.I certainly expected a lot more from a movie directed by Francis Ford Coppola,one of the greatest directors of all time who has given us classics such as the Godfather and Apocalypse Now,this movie was not something you'd expect him to make.I wasn't surprised to see Robin Williams in the title role,he really suited his character because he always has had a childlike sensibility,and was certainly the movies highlight,the best part was his emotional speech at the end.It upsets me that they got Robin Williams and Bill Cosby to be in several scenes together but didn't let them improvise any of their lines,they are both comedy legends and allowing them to do this would have been so perfect,but sadly they only got to go by the script.Jack has some funny moments and for Robin Williams sake you should check it out if it's ever on television and you have some time to kill. Since this is the first Robin Williams film I have reviewed since his death I'd just like to address it.He is one of the greatest actors of both comedy and drama,which he has proved with the awards he's won such as an Oscar and Golden Globes.Every role he ever did he gave it all of his heart,you could see it in his eyes and in the way he spoke,he loved his job.The world lost a true legend that day,but he will never be forgotten.His memory will live on.Forever.Rest in Peace Robin Williams. A ten year old boy who ages four times quicker than an average human being,finally convinces his overprotective parents to let him go to school,however,he has trouble fitting in because of his unusual condition. Best Performance: Robin Williams Worst Performance: Fran Drescher

Karen Powell (Diane Lane) gives birth 7 months early but it looks like a full term pregnancy. The boy Jack (Robin Williams) is aging rapidly about 4 times the normal rate. The doctors have never seen anything like it. For 10 years, he's been hidden away at home. He's home-schooled with tutor Lawrence Woodruff (Bill Cosby). On his advise, Jack is sent to public school. Miss Marquez (Jennifer Lopez) is his new teacher.Director Francis Ford Coppola is making this fantasy. He needs the style to match but he doesn't have it. This is simply made to allow Robin Williams to act like a child. He's not given something more compelling to do. It's not funny enough to be a comedy. It's like an after school special. It misses an opportunity to be fanciful. This plays like a bad weird kid's movie. I do have to say that it's weird to see Robin Williams playing around with a bunch of little kids. The good thing about 'Big' was that Tom Hanks acted childish around a bunch of adults. That's much funnier. Even in the adult world, this doesn't have any fun. This is obvious not Coppola's finest moment. He just doesn't have the comedic touch.

Don't get me wrong I love Robin Williams. And I thought he gave a great performance in this movie like he always does. The film's charters and story are terrible. Here's the story. Jack Powell played Robin Williams is a 10 year-old trapped in the body of a 40 year-old. Because he has a rare disease that is never explained. It's just Mentioned when he's born that he has it. They should of went in to that more. He also gets sent to school even though he is a giant. And crushes on his teacher played by Jennifer Lopez. Diane Lane plays his mom and she does a great job. But the is just a bad movie. And can't believe this was directed by the one and only Francis Ford Coppola. If you people out have the option to see this. And the option to not see this movie. Take the option not to.