THE ACCIDENTAL TOURIST
A film review by Mark R. Leeper
Copyright 1989 Mark R. Leeper
Capsule review: Slow adaptation of the Anne Tyler best-selling novel is good viewing for those already familiar with the story but may seem lethargic and perhaps a little pointless to the casual viewer. Kasdan re-unites Turner and Hurt. Rating: +2.
Macon Leary is a man who never gets out of his easy chair. Physically perhaps he does, but mentally and emotionally he cannot face the world of the unexpected. His philosophy of life is always to follow the path of least resistance. Macon has all the character of a wet washrag. His occupation is helping others to share the same numbed existence. He writes travel books for people forced to travel but who are anxious to avoid any new experiences. Macon, who advises his readers never to carry anything they would be devastated to lose, brings that same philosophy to everything he does in life. But new experiences are coming to Macon. A year ago his son died in a senseless murder. Now his wife Sarah is leaving him. And soon he will meet Muriel, a very kookie dog trainer who has designs on both Macon's dog Edward and Macon himself. For over two slow hours we watch Macon buffetted by the tides of those around him until finally he is ready to leave his easy chair and make a real decision.
THE ACCIDENTAL TOURIST is Lawrence Kasdan's film based on Anne Tyler's beautifully textured novel of the often odd people in Macon Leary's life. In THE ACCIDENTAL TOURIST, Kasdan re-unites William Hurt and Kathleen Turner, the stars of his BODY HEAT, as Macon and Sarah. Having seen them together before gives a sort of pre-history to their relationship much like Tracy and Hepburn would have. Hurt and Turner may not be readers' images of the Learys but they certainly are one interpretation of the roles. Oddly enough, Geena Davis is too natural an actress for her role. Some of the things Muriel does in the book that seem really weird Davis does so naturally that they lose much of their strangeness. Yet Muriel, as only the third lead, is the character of most interest to the viewer. Macon and Sarah are too bland really to catch the audience's imagination the way Muriel does. Tyler could put some character into Macon but Hurt seems to be just sleepwalking through his role. I would rate THE ACCIDENTAL TOURIST a +2 on the -4 to +4 scale, but I recommend it only to people who are already familiar with the story. If I had not been, I might well have given the film a lower rating.
Mark R. Leeper
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