- Jack (film)
Infobox_Film
name = Jack
caption = Theatrical release poster
director =Francis Ford Coppola
producer =Francis Ford Coppola Fred Fuchs
writer = James DeMonaco
Gary Nadeau
starring =Robin Williams Diane Lane Jennifer Lopez Bill Cosby
music =Michael Kamen
Bryan Adams
Robert Lange
cinematography =John Toll
editing = Barry Malkin
distributor =Hollywood Pictures American Zoetrope
released =August 9 , 1996
runtime = 113 min.
country = flagicon|USA
language = English
budget = $45 million
gross = $58,586,889
imdb_id = 0116669"Jack" is a
1996 comedy-drama film starringRobin Williams ,Diane Lane ,Brian Kerwin ,Jennifer Lopez ,Fran Drescher , andBill Cosby , and directed byFrancis Ford Coppola . Williams plays the role of Jack Powell, a boy who ages four times faster than normal as a result of adisease calledProgeria Plot
The movie begins during a
Halloween party with Karen Powell (Diane Lane ) going into labor, and being rushed to the hospital. Although the delivery is successful, the baby premature, born after only ten weeks of pregnancy, is diagnosed with an exaggerated form ofWerner syndrome , an aging disease.According to his doctor, as this fictional disease progresses, Jack Powell (
Robin Williams ) will age at a rate four times normal. Jack is next seen as a 10 year-old boy in the body of a 40 year-old man, with a group of four boys telling possible stories of a 'monstrosity' of a boy their age that cannot go toschool . Jack scares them away by dipping a fake eye into slime and throwing it at them from his window.Jack is extremely childish as a consequence of his secluded life - he has only had contact with his parents and his teacher, Lawrence Woodruff (
Bill Cosby ), who introduces the idea that Jack should go to public school. His parents initially balk at the idea of their son going to a public school where he could be emotionally hurt.When he first attends school, Jack is exploited by the other kids to win at
basketball against bullies, and eventually to get adult magazines and other such items. As time goes by, Jack is accepted by the other kids, beginning with Louis, as they discover that they like him. We see Jack's attempts to be normal in school, when he deals with his first crush and heartbreak, and the relationship with his teacher (Jennifer Lopez ). By the end of the film, Jack is both liked and respected by everyone in recognition of the adversity he has overcome.The movie ends with a very elderly-looking Jack and his four best friends graduating
high school . As Jack walks back from his valedictory speech, he tells his mother that he is off to a party and jumps into a car and drives off.Cast
*
Robin Williams as Jack Charles Powell
*Diane Lane as Karen Powell
*Brian Kerwin as Brian Powell
*Jennifer Lopez as Miss Marquez
*Bill Cosby as Mr. Lawrence Woodruff
*Fran Drescher as Dolores "D.D." Durante
*Adam Zolotin as Louis "Louie/Lou" Durante
*Todd Bosley as Eddie
*Seth Smith as John-John
*Mario Yedidia as George
*Michael McKean as PaulieExternal links
*
* [http://www.retrojunk.com/details_movies/541-jack/ "Jack" on RetroJunk]
* [http://www.movieweb.com/movies/film/46/1746/summary.php "Jack" on MovieWeb]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
