Topic: D.A.R.Y.L
D.A.R.Y.L started this discussion 7 years ago #78,330
The science-fiction film D.A.R.Y.L. creates an appealing lead character, a child with a computer brain, only to run him through a couple of preposterous chase sequences that blunt the very humanity that made the film so appealing in the first place.D.A.R.Y.L. turns out to be story of how the Pentagon and a couple of its scientists respond when they discover that their latest weapon, a test-tude baby with a fearless computer brain, turns out to have human feelings after all. The brass at the Pentagon want to terminate project D.A.R.Y.L. (the acronym for a Data Analyzing Robot Youth Lifeform), whereas the scientists eventually grow to like the little cuss.
And why shouldn`t they? Daryl (played with great appeal by Barret Oliver) is a cute litle 11-year-old boy, who, when we first meet him, is abandoned in the woods, apparently suffering from amnesia.
He`s soon placed in a foster home, and we immediately know he`s a special kid when he`s able to memorize an eyechart in a blink. Later he amazes a neighbor boy and girl by setting a new record in his very first try at a video game. And later still, he stuns and pleases his foster dad (Michael McKean) by hitting home runs in his very first Little League game. But after a while Daryl`s perfection begins to grate on his foster mother (Mary Beth Hurt in a role that that probably provided a much-needed paycheck).
D.A.R.Y.L is perfectly entertaining while it comments on how frustrating having a perfect little child like Daryl can be. Adults like kids to screw up; it makes them feel needed, a little boy explains to Daryl in the film`s best scene.
But instead of staying with that subject-when perfect is really imperfect-D.A.R.Y.L degenerates into a car chase followed by a battle in the skies.
Maybe youngsters will like the chases; maybe the stupidity of the Pentagon will soar past their heads. But for adults who enjoy meeting cute little Daryl in the beginning of the film, his treatment as a windup toy in its last half-hour is a big disappointment.
To be sure, we`re not talking about a bad movie, just one that could have been so much better.
D.A.R.Y.L.
(Edited 38 seconds later.)
Anonymous B joined in and replied with this 7 years ago, 14 minutes later[^] [v] #914,663
A series with him and V.I.C.I. from Small Wonder would have made an awesome buddy comedy. I don't know why we were so focused on robot kids in the mid-80s.
Anonymous A (OP) replied with this 7 years ago, 1 hour later, 1 hour after the original post[^] [v] #914,687
@previous (B)
> I don't know why we were so focused on robot kids in the mid-80s.
right? kinda wanna find more robot kid movies and watch em all at once
> I don't know why we were so focused on robot kids in the mid-80s.
right? kinda wanna find more robot kid movies and watch em all at once
Sheila LaBoof joined in and replied with this 7 years ago, 6 hours later, 8 hours after the original post[^] [v] #914,746
Was Daryl Hanna in that one