Forever Young

Plot synopsis:
In 1939, Captain Daniel McCormick (Mel Gibson) is a United States Army Air Corps test pilot. After a successful run and subsequent crash landing in a prototype North American B-25 Mitchell bomber at Alexander Field in Northern California, McCormick is greeted by his longtime friend, Harry Finley (George Wendt) who's a scientist. Finley confides that his latest experiment, "Project B", has succeeded in doing the impossible. The machine, built by Finley and his team of scientists, is a prototype chamber for cryonic freezing. When McCormick's girlfriend, Helen (Isabel Glasser) goes into a coma from an accident and the doctors doubt she will ever recover, McCormick insists he be put in suspended animation for one year, starting November 26, 1939, so he will not have to watch Helen die.
Fifty-three years later, two boys are playing inside a military storage warehouse which is being emptied in preparation for its demolition. They discover the suspended animation chamber containing McCormick and are enticed by it. Believing it to be a miniature submarine, they proceed to play with its dials and controls and accidentally activate the restoration process. The chamber opens and McCormick reflexively grabs one boy's coat, causing them to flee in terror, leaving the coat clasped in McCormick's hand. Shortly after, McCormick awakens to the realization that it is now 1992. After appropriating shorts and a shirt from a clothesline, he first approaches the military about his experiences. When they dismiss him as crazed, McCormick becomes more determined to learn what happened to Finley, Helen, and the world that has seemingly evolved overnight around him.
An address tag inside the jacket leads McCormick to the owner, 12-year old Nat Cooper (Elijah Wood), one of the two boys who opened the chamber. Though the boys are initially terrified, McCormick is able to calm Nat and his friend with the truth of his story. While hiding in Nat's tree house with a secret stash of junk food, he witnesses Nat's single mother Claire (Jamie Lee Curtis) being assaulted by her abusive, alcoholic ex-boyfriend, and goes to her defense. After McCormick receives a gash in the fight, Claire, a nurse, fixes it up and a bond develops between the two. This bond is strengthened when she offers McCormick a place to stay, until he can discover what to do with his search. Nonetheless, McCormick's time is running out, as his body starts to age rapidly because the suspended animation chamber process was not entirely successful.
When another "aging attack" practically cripples McCormick, Claire is told the amazing truth. Susan, Finley's daughter, informs him that her father died many years earlier before she was born (the government later specifies it was a warehouse fire in the early '40s, while trying to save the frozen McCormick from the chaos). Susan also gives McCormick her father's journals, hoping he can use them to reverse his own condition. However, according to the journals, the subject did not properly stop aging, but rather postponed it, thus explaining Daniel's own rapid aging. Before leaving, Susan gives McCormick one further revelation: Helen is alive. The government is also after McCormick, but in the end, Claire hands over the crucial information on "Project B" and no one is arrested as the government investigates what went wrong. Claire gave the government the journals that Harry wrote, to help them to fix their problem. Claire notices Nat is gone and he was last in the plane with Daniel. The Government will wait for Nat and Daniel to get back and escort them back home, so they can finish their research on Harry's machine and research from the hospital on Daniel's condition too.
McCormick's final task is to find Helen in the present day. McCormick commandeers a B-25 bomber from an air show with Nat a stowaway on board. Nat helps McCormick land when another attack nearly kills him. His true age having finally caught up with him, the now-elderly McCormick reunites with the elderly Helen and asks her to marry him and she accepts.

Tags: cult, romantic

Review:
Without a clue what happened to him or what to do, Daniel turns to the two boys for help.It sounds rather corny and obvious and, in a way, I suppose it is but by not ever playing it for laughs or being self-mocking the film creates a tone that means it all works as long as you meet it on its terms.
Wood works well with Gibson, which I suppose is the important thing.Overall this is a solid and enjoyable romantic film that is a bit slushy and melodramatic.
I first saw this movie when I was ten years old and have been in love with mel gibson ever since.
This movie hits all the requisite points for the classic love story.Love lost - love found - mistaken death of love one - sacrifice - the hero almost falling for another woman - a cute boy facilitating the reunion - the evil group trying to stop the reunion - a great escape - the reunion scene in a very scenic locale with great camera shots - Mel Gibson.I went to see it mainly because it had a science fiction angle.
Mel Gibson in Forever Young is particularly effective when dealing with the son of Jamie Lee Curtis; you know she's already committed and he cannot hang around, but you find yourself wishing the boy could have Mel for his new dad.Not offering more shows like this is why theaters have so few under-12 and over-35 movie goers..
Daniel asks his best friend Harry Finley (Wendt) if he could be the specimen for Harry's cryogenics project, soon enough he is in a deep frozen sleep and wants to be woken up when Helen gets better.
It's 50 years later and two boys Nat (Wood) and Felix (Gorman) accidentally stumble upon Daniel and he's brought back to life, he becomes friends with Nat's mother Claire (Curtis) who introduces him into the 1990's.
Forever Young takes place in 1939, where Daniel (a pilot played by Mel), after being unable to propose to his girlfriend who soon afterwards falls into a coma, decides to be frozen by his best friend for a year's time.
This starts a rather amusing and interesting walk through the streets, and a reunion with the boy, who, with the aid of his mother (played spectacularly by Jamie Lee Curtis), help him on his search to untangle his past -- bringing him to the sudden realization that true love can't wait.
This film has it all:  drama, action, romance, bits of humor, a well-written script, a wonderful cast, spectacular scenery, and most of all, a gorgeous Mel, who plays his role of the daring, young test pilot to a tee.
Now, in conclusion, I highly recommend this excellent drama that will warm your heart and stay with you eternally to any Mel Gibson or Jamie Lee Curtis fan who hasn't seen it.
and I'm glad I didn't know that, because it would have tainted my opinion.I expected a sappy love story with a sappy Mel Gibson who takes a nap to wake up and find himself falling in sappy love with the ugly, but sappy, Jamie Lee Curtis and adopting her sappy and bug-eyed son, Elijah Wood.
No sappiness, and Mel Gibson wasn't even sucking as hard as he tends to suck (see "What Women Want" for really hard sucking).I really liked this film, it kept me from going to sleep on time.
it's not a masterpiece, i mean the main idea was a little unoriginal and the ending was predictable, but it was a funny and enjoyable movie to watch, especially the chemistry betwean mel Gibson and jamie lee curtis(two great actors) and also elijah wood which was pretty great.
mel Gibson did a fine job.it is not his best work but he was good,the most important thing he did was not letting the character be a boring one.elijah wood was also funny and i was kinda surprised to see him in this movie.afterall this movie cannot be considered as a masterpiece or an influential film,but the very important point is that it's not trying to.this film is supposed to be amusing and entertaining and to be "light" for it's audience,and imo it's very successful in it's own way.
FOREVER YOUNG has some big names, like Mel Gibson, Jamie Lee Curtis, Elijah Wood, and George Wendt (Cheers).
Forever Young is one of my all time favorites, it combines a great story with excellent performances from Mel Gibson,Jamie Lee Curtis and child actor Elijah Wood.
Definitely one of my favorite Gibson flicks,and I always enjoy watching Elijah Wood who in my opinion was one of the finest child actors of his time..
Forever Young is a brilliant movie, which has been wonderfully directed by Steve Miner and acted by the brilliant Mel Gibson, Jamie Lee Curtis and a young Elijah Wood who all give great performances here.
But Mel Gibson despite playing a tired sort of character, does well at acting bemused, and Jamie Lee Curtis provides charming support.
Tragedy takes his sweetheart away" according to the film's official synopsis.With his sweetheart in a coma, and given almost no chance of recovery, Mr. Gibson asks to be cryogenically frozen for one year.
Anyway, Gibson awakens in 1992, and moves in with young Elijah Wood (as Nat Cooper) and his mom, nurse Jamie Lee Curtis (as Claire).After the camera lovingly shows his nude profile, a very fit and good-looking Gibson finds some clothing to wear, and goes to use a pay phone, outside a Ralph's supermarket.
And, cute little Veronica Lauren, recently "Sarah" in "Dark Shadows", is definitely worth serenading.**** Forever Young (12/11/92) Steve Miner ~ Mel Gibson, Elijah Wood, Jamie Lee Curtis.
Daniel Mc Cormick's (Two Time Oscar-Winner:Mel Gibson) girlfriend Helen (Isabel Glasser) went to a deep coma after getting hit by a car.
Which Daniel wants their help to find his best friend and his girlfriend if they are still alive but slowly Daniel finds himself in a strong bond with Nat and a kind friendship with Nat's mother Claire (Jamie Lee Curtis).Directed by Steve Miner (Day of the Dead "2007", House, Texas Rangers) made an enjoyable, if corny fantasy drama with the right amounts of comedy and romance.
The movie's best moments are the scenes between Gibson and Wood makes this premise works.
As trivial as this movie may seem , I think that the subjects of love forever , learning to heal and helping a fatherless young boy become a young man is way more profound then the self important movies Mel has been pumping out in recent years.I think that stories are the best way to get messages out there.
Mel Gibson plays a military test pilot who agrees to become the subject of a cryogenic experiment after the love of his life ends up in an 'irreversable' coma in 1939.
Plot In A Paragraph: It's 1939 and test pilot Daniel McCormick (Mel Gibson) asks his best friend Harry (George Wendt) to use him as a guinea pig for a cryogenics experiment.
Just for someone who has a broken heart...in the begining start well on sci-fi genre,while in the future became a melodrama and some childsh acting,perhaps miscasting by Jamie and Isabel who weren't in the level of Gibson,great to see Elijah Wood as a child,the picture didn't take off,a bit slow dow.....but still interesting to see,if you don't have anything to do!!Not convincing!!Resume:First watch: 1996 / How much: 3 / Source: TV-DVD / Rating: 7.
This film tells the story of Daniel McCormick, an aviator who decides to take part in an innovative scientific experiment with cryogenics after his girlfriend, whom he would ask to marry him, be run over by a car and enter the hospital with little chance of recovery.
The cast is led by Mel Gibson and features Jamie Lee Curtis and young Elijah Wood in supporting roles.
While the film as a whole is only decent, it is fascinating to get a glimpse into the early film musings of Abrams.For a basic plot summary, "Forever Young" tells the story of Captain Daniel McCormick (Gibson), a military test pilot in 1939 who sees his fiancée Helen (Isabel Glasser) involved in an accident and rendered comatose.
Overcome with grief, Daniel persuades inventor friend Harry Finley (George Wendt) to enroll him in an experimental freezing process (to last a year) so he doesn't have to watch the love of his life slowly die.
Taken in by single mother Claire (Jamie Lee Curtis) and son Nat (Elijah Wood), Daniel must assimilate back into culture while at the same time untangle those missing years.There are unique elements to this script that I see Abrams' handprints all over.
The premise is interesting, the acting is quite good, and there really are some great scenes featuring Gibson and Wood (their chemistry almost steals the show at times).
I enjoyed it just as much this time as when I saw it back in the early nineties.Mel Gibson is young, handsome (sane) and plays a 1939 test pilot who volunteers for a top secret experiment, after his lady love is injured in a car accident and falls into a coma.
Daniel then comes to the rescue of single mom Jamie lee Curtis who in turn aids in his recovery and helps him try to find the scientist (or at least a relative) of those responsible for his 50 year freeze.The movie is part comedy, part adventure, some sci fi and a heartbreaking romance rolled into one.
The bad guys here are the FBI, looking to detain Daniel and learn from his involvement in the top secret experiment.One of my favourite scenes is when Mel teaches Elijah to fly in a pretend B52 bomber made from bits and pieces, glo lites, kitchen utensils and odd switches, but they film it in a way that it feels like they've taken off, and in a child's mind you believe.
"Forever Young" seems to have a mix of both commercial and personal sides, and despite a few flaws in its screenplay it still entertains and holds your attention.The basic plot line has Gibson as a military test pilot in 1939 who wants to propose to the love of his life played by Isabel Glasser, but he chickens out, and as he does so, she goes comatose and nearly dies from being hit by a car.
After saving Wood's mother played by Jamie Lee Curtis from nearly being abused, he briefly moves in and begins a minor relationship with her until the climax, which I won't give away.So yeah it definitely has the ingredients and clichés of a made-for- TV movie.
Around that theme there is a touching love story and re-meeting 50 years later between Mel Gibson and Isabel Glasser.
In the middle of the film the action is well carried by Jamie Lee Curtis as a single mother looking for a father for her child - extremely well-played by Elijah Wood.
Mel Gibson plays a man frozen in 1939 after his girlfriend enters a coma and reawakens after 53 years.
However, the film does have its moments, very few, but that make this movie average.'Forever Young' really isn't good because it's too unbelievable.
Jamie Lee Curtis shines as Wood's mother and overall the film is enjoyable, but is a little too manipulative and sappy to be completely successful.
He actually proves to be quite likable as a romantic lead, and makes Forever Young a sweet, endearing romantic fable.In 1939, Mel plays Captain Daniel McCormick, an Air Force test pilot.
He stays frozen in the capsule for over 50 years.Daniel is eventually thawed out by two boys, Nat and Felix (Nat is played by a young Elijah Wood).
Staying with Nat and his mother Claire (the delightful Jamie Lee Curtis), Daniel tries to piece together the last 50 years.To enjoy Forever Young, you will probably have to suspend disbelief quite a bit.
In the same way Robert Zemeckis brought a Frank Capra style of storytelling to BTTF, the director Steve Miner also brings a gentle, benign touch to this story.The greatest discovery of all is the fact that Mel Gibson manages to make this film work.
Jamie Lee Curtis adds sterling support as always, and she gets a lot of good scenes with Gibson.Elijah Wood also puts in an excellent performance, showing incredible maturity for his age.
I know at least two of them that were made in 1991-1992 and they were both fun to watch: this movie and "Late For Dinner."The good things that this particular film has going for it are: 1 - Mel Gibson plays a very likable lead character in "Captain Daniel McCormick;" 2 - there is a nice 1940s atmosphere in the beginning with a sweet-looking Isabell Glasser, who exhibits one of the sweetest faces and smiles I've seen on film; 3 - there is a good mix of humor, drama and intrigue, as well as fantasy in the story; 4 - there is a nice, almost tear-inducing ending.The kids in the movie were a little pushy but not too bad.
It is a touching love story.This movie also shows how a boy would want a man he meets as his father.
The movie shows it does work, but that it is not a solution after all.The acting by Mel Gibson and Elijah Wood makes it a very nice movie to watch.
I curl up with this movie occasionally because a) it's a ripping little yarn, b) it's got Mel Gibson in it, and c) because it's as comforting to me as a warm blanket or a cup of hot chocolate.Gibson plays Daniel McCormick, an army test pilot in 1939 who is about to propose to his girlfriend, Helen (Isabel Glasser) when she is hit by a truck and falls into a coma.
Mini-Frodo is quite good as the boy Nat, who befriends Daniel, and his own little love story in the film is quite sweet "you are my sunshine, my only sunshine..." reminded me of all the silly crushes I had at that age.
I also liked the fact that while he was obviously attracted to her, Daniel did not get it on with Jamie Lee Curtis' character, but that the story really was about his "true love".
All the characters are just great, and they were all extremely likable as well, plus Mel Gibson and Jamie Lee Curtis are simply amazing in this!.
Elijah Wood is excellent as the kid,and was really likable, and I thought this was very well written and made as well, plus Mel Gibson's aging make up was really cool!.
Mel Gibson is amazing as always and is amazing here, he is extremely likable funny, charming had excellent chemistry with Jamie Lee Curtis,Isabel Glasser and Elijah Wood, had lots of charisma and had a really cool character, as he looked pretty comfortable with his role!
Overlooked in error, he is accidentally woken in 1992 at which point, with the help of a nurse and her son, he tries to make some sense of what has happened to him.Forget the science fiction element - the cryogenesis is unconvincing, and the "catch-up" ageing afterwards is, as far as I'm aware, completely without any sort of scientific or logical foundation.What you are left with is a romantic fable, cross-matched with some fish out of water humour, a dab of suspense, and some pleasing relationships between the characters.Curiously, the heart of the movie is not Mel Gibson (who is perfectly satisfactory as Daniel) nor Jamie Lee Curtis (whose samaritan nurse Claire is almost an incidental character), but 10-year old Elijah Wood who, even at that age, holds centre stage effortlessly for much of the film.Don't expect it to make any sense, and you may well enjoy it..
Performances are weak, as is the comedy, in a movie which played a lot like a cross between "The Rocketeer" and "Somewhere in Time".With too many ridiculous situations and a hastily explained script, "Forever Young" remained too hokey to even make an effective love story.Monday, April 12, 1993 - Balwyn Cinema.
I haven't seen this film in a long time but I will try and give you my take on the film.Forever young came out in 1992 and stars Mel Gibson and Jamie Lee Curtis and tells the tale of a US Navy officer named as Daniel who his chronically frozen due to the love of his life dying.
He later befriends the young boy who found him and his single mother(played by Jamie Lee Curtis and Elijah Wood) and discovers that since he was frozen he is slowly becoming older and his immortality is slowly fading away.
Mel Gibson, Jamie Lee Curtis, Elijah Wood, Isabel Glasser and George Wendt star in this 1992 sci-fi drama.
This begins in 1939 where we meet test pilot, Daniel (Gibson) who has a girlfriend, Helen (Glasser) and best friend, Harry (Wendt) who is a scientist.
Mel Gibson is good at bringing out this side of Daniel's character.Just when the film seems to be developing into a romantic comedy which will end with Daniel and Claire falling for one another, and then changes direction with the sudden revelation that Helen did not die in 1939 but is still alive.
Daniel McCormick (Mel Gibson) loves his girlfriend Helen (Isabel Glasser) very much and is keen to propose marriage to her, but he cannot pluck up the courage, and then to his shock she is hit by a car.
She is put into hospital suffering a coma that doctors say she will not wake up from, so with the success of his friend's experiment, Daniel asks Harry Finley (George Wendt) to cryogenically freeze him in a capsule for one year so he does not have to watch her die.
Gibson is charming as the man from the past who will do anything to be with his love, Curtis is nice as the single mother who he likes and she admires, and young Wood proves himself a great early talent.