Critic Reviews
Phenomenon (1996) Rank 3 Reviews
Expert Review Summary
based on (61) reviews
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Reviews by Score:
San Francisco Chronicle (Peter Stack)
San Francisco Examiner (Barbara Shulgasser)
The Cranky Critic (Chuck Schwartz)
Michael Dequina
A lot of Phenomenon resembles another recent Buena Vista release that dealt with supernatural powers, Powder. But one of the big reasons why this new film is as enjoyable and fun as the other was unwatchable and ridiculous is its healthy sense of humor. ...read the complete Phenomenon movie review at Michael Dequina
Palo Alto Weekly (Jim Shelby)
Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
The opening titles of ``Phenomenon'' plant a sly idea that the filmdoes nothing to discourage. We see the star-filled sky, and then the letters ofthe title settle into place with a subtle ...read the complete Phenomenon movie review at Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
Cinema in Focus (Denny Wayman and Hal Conklin)
Scott Renshaw
PHENOMENON stars John Travolta as George Malley, a simple auto mechanic in the small Northern California town of Harmon. On his 37th birthday, as he is leaving a party at a bar, George receives a rather unexpected gift: a flash of light from the sky ...read the complete Phenomenon movie review at Scott Renshaw
Movie Habit (Marty Mapes)
Andrew Hicks (Andrew Hicks)
Mr. Brown's Movies (Michael Dequina)
A slight but agreeable blend of comedy, drama, and whimsy. ...read the complete Phenomenon movie review at Mr. Brown's Movies (Michael Dequina)
german review
"Was ist der Sinn des Lebens?" scheint uns dieser Film fragen zu wollen. In diesem Film wird ein (Unter-)durchschittsamerikaner durch ein mysteriöses Ereignis zu einem hochintelligenten Mann - mit allen positiven aber auch negativen Konsequenzen. Jon ...read the complete Phenomenon movie review at german review
Cinematter (Matt Williams)
Phenomenon is a touching tearjerker that actually has some depth. John Travolta stars as George Malley, a nice normal guy in the small town of Harmon, California. He's the slow paced, good natured auto mechanic...friend to most in town. On his 37th ...read the complete Phenomenon movie review at Cinematter (Matt Williams)
LowComDom Online Film Reviews
Tucson Weekly (Stacey Richter)
Christian Spotlight on the Movies
Los Angeles Times (Kenneth Turan)
DVD Verdict (David Rogers)
Reeling Reviews (Robin and Laura Clifford)
Deseret News, Salt Lake City
Movie Hell (Michael J. Legeros)
This crowd-pleasing melodrama is built around a nifty premise: popular George Malley (John Travolta), a small-town auto mechanic of average intelligence, undergoes a change on the night of his 37th birthday. He becomes smarter, devouring whole books in ...read the complete Phenomenon movie review at Movie Hell (Michael J. Legeros)
Video Reviews with Joan Ellis
"Phenomenon" is a sweet, sad movie with a lot on its mind. How well it succeeds will depend entirely on your own mind-set. If you are open to an idealized view of friendship, of landscape, and of people, you will like this movie. This is not the ...read the complete Phenomenon movie review at Video Reviews with Joan Ellis
Washington Post
Screen It! Entertainment Reviews for Parents
Movie ram-blings (Ram Samudrala)
The Flying Inkpot (Sheri Kristen Goh)
San Francisco Chronicle (Peter Stack)
Spirituality & Health (Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat)
filmcritic.com (Christopher Null)
John Travolta is one hell of a hairy man. More than any other movie I've seen him in, Phenomenon features more of Travolta's bodily fur than anything else you're likely to come by.
The trailers have been barraging us with this simplest of plots for ...read the complete Phenomenon movie review at filmcritic.com (Christopher Null)
Michael Redman
When he comes to and makes his way back inside the tavern, of course no one believes him. They catch on that something is different during the next few days as good ole boy George becomes a chess wiz, learns Portuguese in 20 minutes, invents a supergrow ...read the complete Phenomenon movie review at Michael Redman
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (Jack Garner)
Laramie Movie Scope (Robert Roten)
Travolta does a very good acting job, as do Forest Whitaker, who plays his friend, Nate Pope, and Pennamin. It isn't their fault the story runs out of gas. The movie rates a C+. ...read the complete Phenomenon movie review at Laramie Movie Scope (Robert Roten)
Dragan Antulov
PHENOMENON is not particularly intelligent film nor very original. The basic idea behind Gerald Di Pego's script could be traced to Daniel Keyes' classic science fiction story FLOWERS FOR ALGERNON (adapted into 1968 film CHARLY). Director Jon ...read the complete Phenomenon movie review at Dragan Antulov
User Reviews
by Star Bux "Citizen... on June 14, 2009
Nice movie, but for some reason, this film has one of the ...
by David on March 28, 2009
I hadn't seen Phenomenon in several years. I always liked it, but the most recent viewing was the most satisfying. The mental powers thing was what made it interesting the first time I saw it, but now I take that aspect as a device for getting to the ...
by John F. Rooney on March 27, 2009
John Travolta as George Malley ...
by E. Karasik on January 15, 2009
I watched this again for about the fourth time and it always gets me. The plot requires some forceful suspension of disbelief, but the characters, the acting, and the emotional territory explored by the film are believable and affecting. I love the ...
by T. Bellows "soul9... on November 30, 2008
This movie is a special piece all the way. Travolta shines - and the chemistry is perfect in all other characters. If you read about spiritual light and sound in Paul Twitchell's The Flute of ...
by Twizzles Girl "Tw... on June 24, 2008
I love this movie. It will always be part of my permanent collection for its timeless brilliance and beauty. I know that at times it can be a bit sappy or outdated as some have mentioned, but I have watched this movie dozens of times and have yet to be ...
by Valorie Ockert on July 12, 2007
I have seen this movie at least 20 times and I still bawl at the end. In my personal top five of all time greatest movies. If you are an intellectual person you will appreciate the complexities in the premise. Don't want to say too much and give away ...
by Mary L. Overby on May 09, 2007
Another outstanding movie with John Travolta. Such a romance. John stretched for this role and pulled it off with flying colors. His costars were perfect too. ...
by Jannean Yusko on April 01, 2007
This story this movie touches me in so many ways ...
by Cynthia M. Biondo... on August 09, 2006
I ordered the movie for a school project and they arrived in perfect condition with just enough time for me to do a movie psychology review on it. I got an A, so it was worth ...
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