Title:Domestic Disturbance By: Harold Becker Released by: Paramount Released on: Rating (out of 10): 1 Date: 03/18/2002
John Travolta, Vince Vaughn, Teri Polo, Matthew O’ Leary and Steve Buscemi
My Stepfather is a Psycho
As I was sitting down to write this review, I tried to think of one thing positive to say about Domestic Disturbance. After pondering for a while, it finally came to me: the movie is only 88 minutes long, which may seem too short to some, but in the case of this movie, trust me, it’s merciful. Domestic Disturbance feels like it could have been made by Ed Wood, and I say this not simply because it’s bad. Watching the movie, it seems like the director set up the camera, had the actors read their lines, yelled cut with triumphant glee, and then rushed to shoot the next scene.
Yes, this movie is sloppy. Paramount pictures knows that this time of the year is not a big one, so why not sucker the American viewing public by slapping together a thriller featuring all the tired elements audiences these days go for? I am wondering if even the most lenient moviegoer will be pleased with this pile of skunk crap. I think back to Don’t Say A Word, which followed a similar pattern to Domestic Disturbance, but believe me when I say that movie was a masterpiece in comparison with this one.
The movie stars John Travolta, who seems to be sinking back into his slump from the ‘80s, as Frank Morrison, a boat maker and good father. He’s been divorced from Susan (Teri Polo) for quite some time, and now, she is engaged to be married to Rick Barnes (Vince Vaughn), a hotshot businessman. Frank and his son, Danny (Matthew O’ Leary) are very close, so Frank doesn’t like the idea that some strange man could come in and take his place. However, Danny isn’t crazy about the marriage either; in fact, since his parents got divorced, he’s been pulling stunts to try and get their attention.
For Danny’s sake, Frank tries to get Danny involved in activities with Rick, who we learn right away is not a very nice guy. For instance, while playing catch, Rick is very critical of the way Danny throws the ball. Another clue arrives at the wedding when an old friend of Rick’s, played by Steve Buscemi, shows up uninvited. Frank notices their strange behavior towards one another, and sure enough, something happens. In a completely pointless scene, Danny hides in the back of Rick’s truck just long enough to see him commit murder and destroy the evidence.
Danny confesses the whole story to the cops, who don’t believe him, since he’s had a history of telling lies when he’s angry with his parents. Of course, Frank believes him, so everyone thinks he’s loony tunes as well. “He lies, but he never lies to me,” Frank helpfully observes. Fearing that his son is in danger, Frank starts investigating Rick, and the murder. All of this is done without any interest or suspense, because the movie never really sets up its characters as anything more than tools that are supposed to take us from point A to point B. Domestic Disturbance wouldn’t be playing with the right cards if it didn’t end in a violent confrontation, and I must say that the one here provides some pretty nice laughs. Characters become telepathic at just the right moments, and the camera shoots from angles that make it very difficult to see who’s who.
Travolta is simply awful here. Starting with Broken Arrow I believe, he got the idea that going over the top was a good thing, and has done it ever since. Yes, it can work in the right kind of movie (Swordfish for example), but when you’re trying to make an audience believe in you, it’s not the correct approach. Vince Vaughn is an actor that seemed to be on the rise, but ever since he disgraced the role of Norman Bates, he thinks that narrowing his eyes makes him scary. Not so. Poor Teri Polo more or less reprises her sweet, innocent character from Meet the Parents.
Domestic Disturbance was directed by Harold Becker, who has made some marvelous thrillers, such as Sea of Love. Why he thought this material was valuable is a mighty good question. If this movie’s a hit, I have no doubt that he’ll be roaring with laughter as he cashes his check. Boy, what a bad year it has been. With the exception of the brilliant Memento, there hasn’t been another solid thriller to hit the theaters. Hollywood is through giving us surprises. Instead, they’d rather play it safe and drown us in filth like this. I wouldn’t even wish the experience of Domestic Disturbance on my worst enemies. I don’t say that just because it’s a bad movie. I say that because it’s not long enough.
