FOREVER YOUNG
US, 1992, 102 minutes, Colour.
Mel Gibson, Jamie Lee Curtis, Elijah Wood, George Wendt, Joe Morton.
Directed by Steve Miner.
Forever Young is a romantic drama, the kind of movie that people say they would like to see. It stars Mel Gibson, restrained and offering his ironic and agreeable persona. His main co-star is the young Elijah Wood, so effective in films like Avalon, Radio Fliers, Paradise. Jamie Lee Curtis plays his mother. There is a short cameo by George Wendt, so popular from Cheers.
The film is directed by Steve Miner, whose credits range from the horror film House, to the racial comedy Soul Man and to the mediaeval and modern horror adventure, Warlock.
The film offers something of the time travel issues, an air pilot frozen in 1939 awakes in 1992 and has to come to terms with the new world, the acceleration of his ageing processes, the discovery that his fiancee is still alive.
Audiences will enjoy the romantic tone of the film, its restraint in its treatment, its generally attractive tone. (Australian Russell Boyd was director of photography).
1.A popular romance for the 1990s?
2.The contrast between 1939 and 1992? The planes, the air base, the town, the diner still there after fifty years, cryogenic experiments and science, lifestyles?
3.The title and its tone, musical score, the use of the popular song, "The Very Thought of You"?
4.Daniel and his flying, the dangers, daredevil, his landing, his friendship with Harry Finley, his love for Helen, his life before him, hopes, rehearsing the proposal - but not proposing?
5.The suddenness of the accident, the injury to Helen, the months in coma, the sadness for Daniel, Harry and his experiments, cryogenics, Daniel volunteering, being frozen?
6.1992, Nat and Felix and their playing together, Nat and his relationship with Claire? The older brother, going to the base, getting out of the car, the warehouse, playing games, opening up the container, their fright in finding Daniel?
7.Mel Gibson and his screen presence and humorous style for Daniel? Waking up, the puzzle, discovering that 50 years had passed, the guard and the discussion, his shrewdness in escaping, the authorities? The jacket, Nat's address, finding the boys, in the treehouse? Claire, rescuing her from the drunken boyfriend? Welcome in the house, the night, going in search of Harry? Trying to find him, the phone calls? Staying at Claire's, his skills, cooking? The military pursuit? His ageing, the hospital, his escape, finding Harry's daughter, Susan? The information about Helen? Going to the air base, his shrewdness in getting in, telling Nat to stay behind? Nat hiding in the plane, helping him land the plane? The lighthouse, the romantic reuniting with Helen?
8.Helen, attractive, love for Daniel, the non-proposal, the accident, coma? Surviving, coming to meet him, the lighthouse and the romantic ending?
9.Nat and Felix, young boys, acting their age, the playing games, finding Daniel, their fears, the treehouse, helping him? The cover-up and the pretence? Daniel as a father figure for Nat? The outings, the enjoyment? At home, with Claire? The military, Nat and his going with Daniel, helping him fly?
10.Claire, her work in the hospital, John and the dates? The drunken ex-boyfriend and the violence? Friendship with Daniel, the attraction? His love for Helen? With Nat, helping him? The search for Nat?
11.The military, the guard, the mistakes, the chase? Cameron and '90s technology in cryogenics, the pursuit?
12.The doctor, his relationship with Claire, decision to help?
13.The effect of 50 years passing, Daniel, the time travel elements - clothes, television, phones etcetera? The comic touches, the romantic touches, melodramatic touches? Satisfying popular entertainment?
