THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, July 9, 1996 TAG: 9607090024
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MAL VINCENT, ENTERTAINMENT WRITER
LENGTH: 87 lines
WE'RE SITTING around talking with John Travolta about how dumb is funny and smart is not.
``I've played some not-so-bright characters and I had a lot of fun with them,'' Travolta was saying.
Yeah, come to think of it, his famous disco dancer in ``Saturday Night Fever'' was no rocket scientist - just a kid who was king on the dance floor. And his comeback role, two years ago, was as a less-than-sharp criminal in ``Pulp Fiction.'' He got Oscar nominations for both.
In ``Phenomenon,'' currently in local theaters, he's playing a simple guy, an auto mechanic from small-town America, who has genius forced upon him. (He's hit by a light from outer space, no less). George Malley, well-liked in town, suddenly is able to memorize books in a matter of moments. He can learn languages. He can balance checkbooks. The townspeople are suspicious.
``It's a total change of pace for John,'' said Jon Turteltaub, who directed ``Phenomenon.'' ``He's played slick, cool characters before, but here he's playing a goofy, simple, fun-loving guy who has genius thrust upon him. What we're saying with `Phenomenon' is that it's not just fools and simpletons who can love. `Forrest Gump' was the definitive simpleton movie. He was the fool as the one who sees the truth.''
Travolta agreed that ``Phenomenon'' is a change of pace.
``He's a sweet guy - not a criminal - for a change,'' said Travolta. ``I think, actually, the movie is good news for smart people. I liked that the script celebrated intelligence rather than dumbness. Why does smartness always get a bad rap? I'd like to change that.''
The actor, who is in the second year of his second career, is ready to answer his own question. ``It's not what should be that's funny. It's what shouldn't be that gets all the laughs. If you've got it all figured out, it's not funny.''
But, then, some critics are not so clear that ``Phenomenon'' does what the star claims it does. After all, George Malley, Travolta's character, is happy until he becomes a genius.
Confronted with the contradiction, Travolta counters, ``No, No. The character is better when he's a genius, even if it does lead to tragedy, if it does.''
He'd rather talk about his continuing comeback, which now seems to be permanent, not just a flash-in-the-Pulp Fiction go-by.
``I've been both the oldest and the youngest movie star around,'' he pointed out. ``When I first became a movie star, I was 21 or 22. All my peers were in their 40s or 50s. Now, I'm older. I never regarded the second time around as a so-called `comeback.' I was working all along, just not in visible movies. But I have made more movies in the past two years than I did in the past 10 years.''
The actor claims that the remarkable thing about his ``comeback'' is that ``everyone seems so happy for me. I suppose, maybe, the disco generation sees me as their own and they approve of me getting work again.''
Travolta was interviewed in Chicago, where he was working on ``Michael,'' a comedy about an angel. His co-stars are William Hurt and Andie MacDowell.
Uncharacteristically, he walked out of ``The Double,'' which was to be directed in Paris by Roman Polanski. Reportedly there were ``creative differences.'' Polanski wanted it played more as a broad comedy. Travolta has been replaced by Steve Martin, but he has no end of new offers to consider.
``He's a real star'' says director Turteltaub. ``When he's on the screen and smiles, he lights up the theater. I think it's the vulnerability that makes him so winning to women.''
The Oscars threw him a curve this year when what was considered a surefire nomination, for playing the Mafia-man in ``Get Shorty,'' came up with zilch. ``Well, I was in good company. Ronnie Howard and Nicole Kidman didn't get nominated either,'' he said. ``What can you do?''
But there have been so many movies in such a short time, including the hit actioner ``Broken Arrow.''
``You're expected to be out there every month or so now or they forget you,'' he said. ``It's not like it was back when Robert Redford, Warren and Paul Newman would make one movie every two or three years.''
Born in Englewood, N.J., Travolta first studied acting in classes conducted by his mother, Helen. He was in his first play at age 12. ``Acting has been my whole life,'' he said.
Travolta lives in Florida with his wife, actress Kelly Preston, and son, Jett. He has his own jet plane, and a pilot's license to fly wherever he wants to go. He got paid $8 million to do ``Phenomenon,'' and rumors persist that he has spent most of it.
``I have my feet pretty firmly on the ground,'' he countered. ``I don't deal in pretensions, but I do know this business has its ups and downs. The thing I have going for me is that people actually seem to want to see me make it. If `Phenomenon' fails, I feel sure I'd be back again anyway.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo by Touchstone Pictures
[John Travolta stars as George Malley...]
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