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I first saw this film when it came out in 1994, but was fighting health issues which made it impossible to get out and buy a VHS copy of the film. Nice to see it available on Amazon.
It's hard not to love Elijah Wood in any role he plays. I knew when I first saw this film, this kid was destined to do something great in Hollywood: So guess who wasn't surprised when he got casted to play Frotto in the series of films entitled; "Lord of the Rings". The books were great to read when I was in my teens, but I always had wondered who would play Frotto one day, when the books were made into films. Well, though Elijah had not been born yet back in those days of my youth, he makes a perfect Frotto in my view with the Trilogy of films.
I loved this film for a few odd reasons: Having grown up in a disfunctional, abusive family, like many in my generation experienced out of the 1960's; I had often wished I could have done what Hugh North (played by Elijah Wood) did in this film and that's divorce his parents. Hugh North is a bright wiz kid; great at scholastics, sports and anything he puts his hand to, whose parents don't seem to even have a clue what a great kid they got from heaven as a son. Except in my case, I would have not gone back to my original parents if I had divorced them. I think I might have settled for the family Hugh finds that had John Ritter as the father. That would have been more my speed.
The film is certainly a light comedy with a profound message: "As bad as anyone's parents might be, apparently, God in His wisdom picked the ones best suited for us". However, this does not mean the best laid plans of God don't go eschew when it comes to free will. So it has been my long experience with life and living anyway; a message this film tries to also drive home it seems.
This film sort of has a happy ending, as Hugh's adventure, we find in the end, culiminates with him almost being murdered to save the cause to free all kids from their overbearing, controlling parents. But instead of being shot, he wakes up and finds his entire adventure has been nothing more than a dream and that his parents really do love him. Otherwise, Hugh's adventures to find a different family are funny and fun to watch. Elijah is adorable in this. This kid has one of the most pretty young male faces I've ever seen in kid actors. What ashame no one thought to do a series of Astro Boy movies back in this time period. Hollywood was staring at the perfect kid to play Astro Boy back then in my opinion. He looks just like the old 1963 anime character, both as Tobio and as Astro.
Bruce Willis, as I recall, first appeared on the Hollywood scene in the TV series "Moonlighting", long ago, when I was much younger. He plays Hugh's angel or conscience in all of this, while constantly appearing as different characters thoughout the story. Willis's characters play a Godly type presence, the part of unconditional love watching over Hugh North, never judging Hugh, but helping him to see what he has in the end ain't so bad.
John Lovitz plays Hugh's attorney. Lovitz obviously had fun with the role; an easy role to play I might add.
Hugh's parents; played by Jason Alexander and Julia Louise Dreyfus are histerical as Hugh's parents, who, for the most part, stay in a comatose state throughout the majority of the film after they learn their son wants to divorce them. In fact, the opening scene where Hugh North (Elijah Wood) is found sitting at the dining room table with his parents, listening to his parents not listen to each other, finds Hugh about to have a total anxiety attack he thinks is a heart attack, which only made me laugh histerically: The poor kid!
I could not help but think back to my own parents when they would talk and not listen to each other before they divorced each other when I was age 10, while fighting for each others attention and how I was constantly in the middle feeling I was being suffocated by their fighting to be heard. I could equate in other words with Hugh North, except my scenario was not funny. In fact, my generation came from allot of families like this, which is why my generation had such a high divorce rate as I grew up.
While I realize this film did not do well at the box office, it did well on TV simply for those of us who could equate to this type of scenario as kids. One of the reason's why it did not do well at the box office might be because those from my own generation were only all too well reminded of the disfunctional home they grew up in and didn't want to be reminded. Those who grew up in loving homes, I would think, would have trouble with this film, simply becaues it would look unreal to them. For me, the reverse is true, looking at families that get along looks unreal to my own childhood, simlpy because I did not grow up in a family that got along all that well. So I suppose it depends on what side of the fence you are coming from in your experiences growing up, that make this film appealing or not appealing.
I was allot like Hugh North in this movie when I was growing up; extremely bright, a good kid, a prodigy, wanting to do right, but getting crucified by the family I grew up in. Wish I might have had the option to make North's choice as a boy, which is why I like this film so much. It's a good fantasy for anyone who can equate to a family they wish they had not been born into.
For those of you who have children and order this film, you shouldn't think this film will give them any ideas if you are a family that respects and loves each other, however if you are not, it might give your kids ideas with the way our legal system is these days. These days kids can divorce their parents if they want to. Just know this stroy is fiction and actually allot of fun to watch. Lots of top named stars were in this film and oddly enough the whole chemistry of the thing works for me.
The VHS tape came in surprisingly great shape. No defects on the video tape or the box. Delivery was on time. No real complaints. I'm so glad this was at least on VHS. I've so wanted this in my library for years. Thanks Amazon for making it available and now in my home library.
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