Phenomenon (1996)

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What’s the Story?

PHENOMENON centers on small town mechanic and bachelor farmer George Malley (John Travolta), who, on his 37th birthday, wonders if life has passed him by. Then one night, he's knocked down by a mysterious bright light. Soon he realizes his intelligence is way beyond average -- he comes up with groundbreaking inventions and even exhibits telekinesis. When George successfully predicts an earthquake and cracks a secret military code used on a nearby base, the government takes an interest in him, too. But all he wants to do with his newfound super-genius is share his inventions, help the community with the agriculture techniques, and maybe arrange some lonely friends of his to make love connections. On that theme, even with his incredible mental mojo, George seems to have his hardest challenge impressing Lace (Kyra Sedgwick), a single mom he's got a crush on.

Is It Any Good?

There are times when Phenomenon teases you that it's going to go deeper into science-fiction territory. Are UFOs involved? How about future time-travelers making people smart? Will George use his spooky talents to fight bad guys for the CIA? Instead, the script (which is on the long side) keeps things focused on the small-town society and down-home values -- and the contrast with the cosmopolitan "experts" from outside, who just see George as a test-tube subject. If anyone's an "alien," they are, in the sentimentalized view of village life.

The crucial question is Will George's old friends shun him because of his awesome brain power? Or will they accept what he says? There turns out to be a fairly earthbound reason (but still a tall tale, medically speaking) to explain George's amazing transformation, and it ends the movie on a heart-tugging note. It's a tearjerker, but an optimistic one, and Travolta is very effective, atypically cast as Joe Average.