# Lost in Space (1998)

### reviewed by
Richard Dickson

    Directed by Stephen Hopkins
    Screenplay by Akiva Goldsman
    Reviewed by Richard F. Dickson

WARNING: This review contains spoilers for those who have not yet seen the film.

The TV series Lost in Space will, to me, always be the Barney Fife to Star Trek's Andy Griffith. I always preferred the darker, more serious episodes at the beginning than the descent into camp the series eventually became. With this in mind, I really looked forward to the film version. Based on what I had seen, it seemed to have the more sinister tone of those early episodes, especially where Dr. Smith and the robot were concerned. Unfortunately, the film commits the cardinal sin of cinema: not good, not bad, just ... there. Once again, Akiva Goldsman proves that his theory of screenwriting is to throw as many plots in as he possibly can and hope one of them sticks. This failed in Batman and Robin and it fails here. Any one of these plots -- the initial launch and sabotage, the derelict ship, and the planet with the time vortex -- could have been fashioned into a tight, satisfying film, but instead we are forced to watch this story meander around through three terribly undeveloped acts. And he also falls prey to the time travel trap: he allows his hero to save the day by travelling back in time to before the Jupiter II is destroyed. Now, if this is possible, why not just go back in time and prevent Dr. Smith from sabotaging the ship in the first place? Yet it's lazy screenwriting like this that seems to dominate the market these days, writers being asked nothing more than to dream up a skeleton on which to hang a bunch of special effects. Not to mention the fact that this movie seems to be little more than a collection of variations on scenes from much better movies: Star Wars space battles, Blade Runner cityscapes, Alien monsters, etc, etc, etc, none of them done with any of the style or flair of the originals. And beyond the dazzling effects, the movie just sits there. Never once was I involved, excited, or stimulated. Gary Oldman's Dr. Smith is evil without any real motivation, simply there to provide a threat. The kids are all annoying, the parents stoic stereotypes. The only one who seems to be having any fun with his role -- and is therefore fun to watch -- is Matt LeBlanc's Major West. He seems to understand the idea that this is supposed to be an adventure, and does well as the dashing hero, despite the awful romantic dialog he's forced to share with Heather Graham. The sad thing is, this movie will probably be a hit. It has all the eye candy needed, plus a cutting edge techno soundtrack that will probably have the kids going back again and again. But if the series was Barney to Star Trek's Andy Griffith, this movie is definitely an Otis that should have remained locked up.

    Richard F. Dickson
    "Time is an illusion.  Lunchtime doubly so."

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