Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 7, 1992 TAG: 9203070244
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: E-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CHRIS GLADDEN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
It's based on a Stephen King story, which is not surprising considering its plot elements. There's an outsider who develops telekinetic powers and is tormented by a guardian who has been twisted by religion and, of course, there is the theme of revenge.
King cannibalizes himself, which is probably OK for a writer of the macabre.
But this movie adds a high-tech twist to "Carrie." The real stars of the movie are the special effects, done largely through computer animation.
Jeff Fahey plays Jobe, a mentally retarded yard man with a gentle nature. Unfortunately, Jeff lives in a town with more than its share of cruel people. His guardian is a priest who regularly whips him with a belt. The jerk down at the local gas station ridicules him. And the little boy who is his neighbor has an abusive father who also hurls insults at Jobe.
Another neighbor is Dr. Angelo (Pierce Brosnan), a scientist working with virtual reality. His work leads the brain into electronic worlds that can enhance intelligence on dizzying video rides into the heart of the computer. He works for a sinister government affiliate hoping to use the new technology for warfare.
Jobe becomes Dr. Angelo's first human guinea pig. Through the use of drugs and computers, the scientist opens up new avenues for Jobe. He becomes smarter, smoother and more assertive - just as Leonard does in his direction. Finally, Jobe develops extrasensory perception, telekinesis and a God complex.
"The Lawnmower Man" is half "Carrie" and half "Frankenstein" and it's finally an uneven movie.
Leonard stages some heavy-handed and awkward scenes but the special effects seem to inspire him. At first, Leonard is annoyingly pretentious. The camera angles are ungainly and the music throughout is self-important. But if he doesn't have a light touch, at least Leonard picks up momentum and ultimately delivers a diverting science fiction movie.
If there are no surprises in the plot, there are at least some in the handling of the effects and action.
The acting is as out-of-balance as the rest of the movie. Fahey isn't convincing as the mentally-retarded Jobe, but he takens on a scary authority as the experiments take hold. Brosnan fares well, torn between his devotion to science and his better judgement. The supporting players overact - as they do in the majority of movies based on Stephen King stories, surely a mystery to be pondered.
"The Lawnmower Man" **1/2: A New Line Cinema release at Valley View Mall 6 (362-8219) and Salem Valley 8 (389-0444). Rated R for violence and sexual content; 110 minutes.
by CNB