Intermission

by Jim Wunderle

"Lost in Space"

Directed by: Stephen Hopkins

Starring: William Hurt, Mimi Rogers, Gary Oldman, Heather Graham, Matt LeBlanc

Rated: PG-13

One of the latest, but by now also one of the most firmly entrenched, gimmicks in Hollywood is the re-making of "baby boomer" TV favorites into major motion pictures.

On the surface it's easy to see why. Nostalgia is big business, and bringing back characters from old TV shows gives a film an instantly recognizable hook. If only the memory merchants who devise these films would take a look at the other "notable" releases in this genre. Remember "The Beverly Hillbillies"? How about "Dragnet," "Sgt. Bilko" or even "The Flinstones"? Not exactly your average Oscar material.

Granted, some things along this line manage to strike a nerve. "The Brady Bunch Movie" out-camped the original show and the "Star Trek" series of movies has become a rather large money-making franchise in the past 19 years.

But for every up you can think of, there are a greater number of downs. "McHale's Navy," "Dennis the Menace" or "Return to Mayberry" anyone? There are a lot more of these things in the works, and occasionally one shows promise. I'm hoping against hope "The Avengers" will be worthy of its television pedigree.

I also must admit that the first time I saw the trailer for "Lost in Space" and after reading that they were going to play it straight I had high hopes.

The casting is impeccable. Veterans William Hurt and Mimi Rogers star as Mom and Dad Robinson, the always-great-as-a-bad-guy Gary Oldman is evil Dr. Zachary Smith and newcomer Heather Graham (Rollergirl from "Boogie Nights") is one of the finest of the latest crop of young actors. Throw in TV stars Matt LeBlanc from "Friends" and Lacey Chabert from "Party of Five," and you have something for everyone.

If you remember the TV show, which was kind of like "Leave it to Beaver Goes to Outer Space," you'll probably remember two very important things. First, the production values were decidedly "cheesy." That has changed in the film. Production design was done by Norman Garwood, who did the brilliantly disturbing rendition of the future in Terry Gilliam's "Brazil." Also, there are no less than 750 special-effects shots in this $90 million-budgeted film.

Secondly, you will no doubt remember the voice of the robot who said at least once in every episode, "Danger, Will Robinson! Danger!" Happily, that indelible voice belonging to Dick Tufeld returns as the voice of the newer, infinitely more high-tech, robot of the film.

Sadly, though, big budgets, great actors and a high nostalgia quotient can't make up for a ludicrous plot line and the beat-you-over-the-head style of director Stephen Hopkins.

I was trying my best to cut the movie every bit of slack I could during the set-up (where the TV show was all "Beaver" and "Father Knows Best," the dysfunction here is darker, and more "90s"), but by the second act, I was weary. When Act III rolled around and the "time travel" angle came into play, I was finished. Time travel as a plot device is always tricky, but screenwriter Akiva Goldsman stoops to new depths of contrivance.

Keep in mind, Goldsman is also responsible for the last two "Batman" screenplays.

When presented with the "alternate future" version of a couple of the on-screen characters in the same time and place I was wishing time travel was really possible.

My dilemma was whether I should zip ahead into the future and get the ordeal over with, or go back in the past and skip "Lost in Space" altogether.

Now for the "truth in criticism" disclaimer. The crowd seemed to enjoy the movie quite a bit. Granted, the bases are well covered.

There are three ages of sexy gals in the film, three ages of cute guys, a cuddly space creature, corny one-liners and lots of explosions. Special effects and loud noises are never more than a minute or so apart, and there's an extensive marketing tie-in.

There is an audience for this film, but not one that cares about plot, subtleties or dramatic finesse.

(Jim Wunderle works at Associated Video Producers and is a Springfield free-lance writer and musician.)

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