JACK REVIEW!!! - PROBABLY ONE OF ROBIN WILLIAMS' MOST UNDER-RATED FILMS

Initial release date: August 9, 1996

Studios: Hollywood Pictures/American Zoetrope/Great Oaks Entertainment

Tagline: He’s a healthy ten year old who’s growing four times faster than normal. Now he’s ready for the biggest adventure of his life … 5th grade.

Plot: After an unusually short pregnancy, Karen Powell gives birth to a baby boy whose body ages much faster than the normal rate. With her husband, Brian, Karen raises her son, Jack, who appears to be a forty year old man when he’s only ten. Though Jack ages rapidly physically he is mentally and emotionally still a young boy, which causes him considerable difficulty. Eventually, Jack gains the support of his peers, which helps him live a fuller life.

Cast

Robin Williams - Jack Powell

Diane Lane (FXs Y: The Last Man) - Karen Powell

Brian Kerwin (27 Dresses; The Help) - Brian Powell

Jennifer Lopez (Hustlers) - Miss Marquez

Fran Drescher (Hotel Transylvania 3) - Dolores Durante

Adam Zolotin - Louis Durante

Todd Bosely (Scrubs) - Edward

Michael McKean - Paulie

Writer(s): James DeMonaco (The Purge series)

Gary Nadeau

Director: Francis Ford Coppola

Rated PG-13 for some sexual references (113 min)

The 1996 movie ‘Jack’ starring Robin Williams is probably one of the few lesser known movies in the late actor’s filmography. Even though the initial reviews for the movie were heavily mixed, this Robin Williams hidden gem is worth a look!

This movie has a bit of everything - some hilarious moments, a few bits of drama and lots of emotion. Seeing Robin Williams act like a ten year old was comedy genius in a few scenes and for the more emotional moments, Williams knocks it out of the park.

A few of the scenes that show the kids making fun of Jack can be a little emotional. But, once they warm up to him, it’s nice to see. A bit of the movie can be silly at times. Yet, ‘Jack’ still has a lot of entertaining parts and great fun.

Some of the sad moments come into play when Jack begins to feel his age. With his condition (which is real), it’s sad that you know Jack doesn’t have much time left.

So, take some time and check out this underrated Robin Williams movie on Disney Plus.

Here are a few interesting tidbits for this underrated Robin Williams movie!

• Francis Ford Coppola gave Robin Williams camping gear to spend the night in his backyard, and $10 to spend at Toys R Us before shooting the movie.

• Robin Williams agreed to play Jack Powell after Disney apologized for breaking their promise to keep his name out of the marketing for ‘Aladdin.’

• Jack’s condition is based on progeria, a real-life condition that causes rapid aging. The average lifespan of someone with progeria is 13; the oldest recorded lifespan (as of 2018) is 30.

• Although ridiculed for making this movie, Coppola has defended it, saying he’s not ashamed of the final cut of the movie. He had been friends with Robin Williams for many years and had always wanted to work with him as an actor.

• Tom Hanks was the original choice for the lead role because of his performance in ‘Big.’ Williams was considered for the lead in that movie as well.

• Debuted at No. 1 and grossed roughly $58.6 million on a budget of $45 million.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOmZ8Zw4SgM