Jack . Tucson Weekly . 08-08-96

Jack

DIRECTED BY: Francis Coppola

REVIEWED: 08-08-96

Francis Coppola, director of Apocalypse Now and Captain Eo, brings us a "heartwarming" comedy about a 10 year-old boy who has a disease that makes him look like Robin Williams. Jack's parents have kept him home because they're afraid the other kids will taunt him for being different; but Jack is lonely, and after considerable prodding they consent to send him to school. At first the other children do tease him, but eventually they come to love him. The intersection between the idealization of childhood as an unfallen, perfectly natural state and the sexuality of an adult male body in this movie is completely bizarre. Robin Williams is supposed to be ten, but he reads Penthouse, makes passes at his teacher and tongue kisses his best friend's mom, all while teaching his friends and family about the spontaneous beauty of childlike behavior. It's interesting, but kind of disturbing, too.

--Stacey Richter

Other Films by Francis Coppola
Bram Stoker's Dracula
The Rainmaker

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