# Lost in Space (1998)

### reviewed by
Homer Yen

    "Lost in Space" - Lack of Thrust Throws Movie Off Course
    by Homer Yen
    (c)         1998

"Danger, Will Robinson, danger!" These mere four words may have been among the most venerable that survived the fickle decade of the '60s. Although only verbal remnants from television's past, Hollywood hopes that this familiar phrase will entice a generation of adults and their children to watch one more adventure featuring the space-faring Robinsons. Dr. Smith, Father John, Mother Maureen, sisters Judy and Penny, young Will, and Robot have all been resurrected in the '90s version of a family who gets lost in space.

In the future, with Earth dying and her natural resources at dangerously low levels, ongoing efforts have been made to find a suitable sister world to colonize. The only one that they know of is half way across the galaxy. To complicate matters, a rival humanoid species (Seditionists) is also trying to be the first to colonize that planet. John (William Hurt) is a leading scientist and has decided that their family will be the first to make the long 10-year journey across the galaxy. At the helm is Major Don West (Matt LeBlanc), an accomplished fighter pilot as seen in the beginning, visually spectacular, fight sequence. If they safely arrive, the Robinsons can construct a space portal that will link to another space portal, currently being constructed in Earth's orbit, which would make transportation between the two planets almost instantaneous. But the Seditionists want to thwart their attempts and use Dr. Smith (Gary Oldman) as their saboteur.

Suffice it to say, while it is an interesting premise that gets the Robinsons into space, it is a contrived sequence that eventually brings the entire cast together on a ship that has been thrown off course, lost in the galaxy. And despite the fact that it might seem that this film would focus on the wild dangers and life-threatening hazards that would face any pioneering family, at its core, it is a film about family values (togetherness, sacrifice, et al.) buried under layers upon layers of special effects. Presumably, children may learn something valuable but not even realize it. But given the gravity of the Robinson's situation, the movie seemed too tame to be an effective science-fiction thriller and too 'tense' to be a story for children. It fell somewhere into the murky middle.

A lot of territory in "Space" is left unexplored. The beginning battles suggest that even greater dangers await, but most of the following action is tepid at best. As a family ripped from their roots on Earth and forced to travel light years across the galaxy, all except one seemed all too willing to just leave everything behind. There was lots of room for more drama and more excitement. The film only devotes 'just enough' time to showcase young Will's budding genius or John's search for balance between his mission and his family. I was also disappointed with Judy, who spoke, perhaps two lines in the whole film. Played by Heather Graham, she was worlds away from her unique performance as Rollergirl in Boogie Nights. Here, she is reduced to shooing away the egomaniacal Major West, whom, of course, she eventually gives in to. Oldman, however, seemed to enjoy his role as the malevolent Dr. Smith.

There's a scene that perfectly encapsulates the tone of this film. After boarding a drifting ship, the party soon discovers that it is infested with metal and flesh eating, spider-like creatures. Young Will, using a 'holographic interface', assumes control of the robot. It looks like one huge video game as he zaps the oncoming critters. Consequently, there is as much thrill here as there is playing Space Invaders. "Lost in Space" is full of imaginative special effects, and may turn out to be the next big simulation ride at Universal studios. But as a major film, it comes across looking and feeling like an overblown Saturday morning cartoon.

    Grade: C

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