ALWAYS (PG)
Directed by Steven Spielberg Running Time: 121 minutes Originally Released: 1989
Reviewed by E. Benjamin Kelsey
* * (out of four)
The words "not bad" have never summed up a movie so well. Then again, the words "not that great" also apply here. ALWAYS, Steven Spielberg's film to top off the 1980's, is quite the example. The cinematography, acting, and even the overall idea isn't too bad, but this movie is still nothing to get excited over. Mostly, it's just a semi-decent rental when you've already seen everything else.
ALWAYS is a remake of the 1943 film A GUY NAMED JOE, a supposed favorite of Mr. Spielberg himself. Richard Dreyfuss stars as Pete, a pilot with a passion for fighting forest fires - a passion so intense, it leads to frivolous stunts and in-the-air horseplay, much to the dismay of Pete's pilot girlfriend, Dorinda (Holly Hunter). Dorinda has had enough high anxiety and, professing her love, convinces Pete to finally settle down and take a teaching position in a small Colorado town. But before he quits the job he loves so much, Pete finds himself fighting one last forest fire, but this time he doesn't come back.
The excessive foreshadowing doesn't allow for any real surprise at Pete's "sudden" death. In fact, it takes too long trying to create a heavy fairy-tale atmosphere and romance before it gets to this point. When Pete does get to the other side however, he is welcomed by an angel named Hap (Audrey Hepburn - now we know how she's spending her afterlife). Hap tells Pete he must go back and help a young hopeful named Ted Baker (Brad Johnson) succeed as a fire-fighter pilot. As obvious as it is to the audience, Pete doesn't realize he is actually helping Ted find Dorinda, and therefore find true love. For this to take place however, both Pete and Dorinda need to get on with their life (or afterlife), something they don't seem to want to do.
John Goodman has a role as Pete's pre-death best friend Al. In fact, it was Al's life Pete was saving when he was killed, a less-than-affective attempt at turning the protagonist's death into a touchy piece of heroism. Al's role in the film is a bit undefined, and it's very hard to tell the importance, if there is any, of his character. When the film ends, there is still no answer.
It's obvious this film is aching to be a magical "make you laugh, make you cry" experience, but instead, it comes off rather corny. It's a sad failure in excellence, especially when it's so obvious Spielberg (and even Dreyfuss) really want it to work. You can sense their dedication to the project, but dedication or no, the gas tank was empty, and ALWAYS just couldn't get going. It was also quite forgettable, and I'm already finding it difficult to remember what happened outside the basic plotline. Flat, unimpressive characters haven't left anything to chew on either.
ALWAYS gets a simple * * for being a bearable two hours of boredom. Watching airplanes take off at the airport is cheaper and perhaps a bit more exciting, but if you're just looking for a cure to insomnia that won't upset your stomach, this could be the answer.
February 01, 1998
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