Michael (1996)

MICHAEL, the best-titled movie of the year, is worse than bad, it's 
pointless.  Writer/director Nora Ephron (MIXED NUTS, SLEEPLESS IN 
SEATTLE) had one good idea and that was to cast John Travolta in 
the darling role of a potbellied, beer-guzzling, cigarette-smoking 
archangel.  He's an expected treat, but Ephron (and three other 
writers) don't know what to do with either him or his costars.  
William Hurt, Robert Pastorelli, and Andie MacDowell are all pain-
fully unfunny as the trio of tabloid journalists who journey to 
rural Ohio to meet Michael.  Worse, there appears to be some foot-
age missing that would explain, among other things, why MacDowell 
and Hurt suddenly break into bantering.  I winced a lot and left 
after an hour. (Rated "PG"/116 min.)

Grade: W/O (Walked Out)

Copyright 1996 by Michael J. Legeros

Originally posted to triangle.movies in MOVIE HELL: December 29, 1996