Flipper (1996)

We lasted thirty minutes in this one.  FLIPPER is what I call a 
"cinematic black hole," a film so utterly flat-- so completely non-
compelling-- that almost nothing escapes from the screen for the 
audience to connect with.  As a teenager spending the summer with 
his Florida fisherman uncle, Elijah Wood (THE WAR) is a comatose 
kid walking.  He speaks without a hint of inflection in his voice 
and barely animates the muscles in his face.  What, was he afraid 
to outperform the fish?  Or did he learn a little too much from his 
WAR co-star Kevin Costner?  Paul Hogan isn't much better.  The 
Aussie actor displays about, oh, one-tenth of the screen charisma 
that he brought to the role of "Crocodile" Dundee.  The minimalist 
plot has something to do with a dolphin, a hurricane, and a Red Hot 
Chili Peppers concert.  Oh yeah, and we heard the word "dioxin" 
mentioned.  For those kids who have never seen underwater footage 
nor visited an aquarium nor vacationed at Sea World, FLIPPER might 
be worth a watch.  As for the rest of the western world... well, I 
can't think of a single reason to sit through this movie.  (Rated 
"PG"/97 min.)

Grade: W/O (walked out)

Originally posted to triangle.movies in MOVIE HELL: May 19, 1996