Domestic Disturbance

Review by Clint Morris

Look up the word versatile in the Dictionary and chances are a picture of John Travolta will be presented to you. At the same time, Check in your Guinness Book of Records for biggest movie-flops of all time, and Travolta’s name will be saddled next to a couple of them.

It’s with much merriment that Travolta and right-hand man, Producer Jonathan D. Krane, have at last learnt how to pick the berries from the poison-ivy. Hopefully, Domestic Disturbance is a sign of things to come.

Whipped with cheese, but wearing a veil as a psychological thriller, Harold Becker’s Domestic Disturbance is an all-too real story of a boy’s new stepfather who turns out to be the evilest thing since Norman Bates.

Co-incidentally, Vince Vaughan, who played Bates in a 1998 remake of Psycho, is sitting contentedly in the role of the vicious new Pa. And for an infrequent change, Travolta is our token hero, a normal guy, who places a roadblock in the new stepfather’s workings. And, although Becker’s screenplay doesn’t break any novel ground as far as popcorn thrillers go, it’s got enough vapour and charisma in it thanks to the always agreeable Travotla, to make it a far from miserable 89 minute sitting.

Frank Morrison (Travolta) is a careworn boat builder, living in the same seaside town as his ex-wife, Susan (Teri Polo) and 12 year old- son Danny (Matt O’Leary).

Danny’s got a capacity for lying and getting himself in trouble, which doesn't fair well with his parents or the local authorities. Unlucky for young Danny, his mother is marrying squalid town icon, Rick Barnes (Vaughn), and if it wasn’t enough to deal with his mother marrying another man, Danny is confronted with the reality that his new stepfather is a borderline psycho!

But who’s going to believe the ‘Boy who has cried wolf’ one too many times? It’s Frank who unsurprisingly believes his son that Rick is up to no good; and in turn risks his own life and rep to shield his boy.

As average as Lewis Colik’s Screenplay may be, the larger-than-life nice guy, Travolta, works magic with it. It’s so nice to see a normal guy represented as a hero, especially in recent times.

Secondly, it’s great to see a character so rapt and admiring of his son, as Frank is of Danny. In addition to Frank, Becker manages to define each character well – lovable Dad, sinister Step daddy (Vaughan), the befuddled mother (Polo) and the petrified witless boy. Steve Buscemi’s Ray Coleman, the man whom mysteriously disappears into the night with old foe Rick, is a role suiting the ruffled goose down to a tee.

Domestic Disturbance is one for the Travolta fans, a chance to see the former Disco King playing the kind of wholesome good guy we haven’t seen him play in all too long. And, at the same, dance all over the suit and tie wearing frame of a self-assured Snake.

3.5 out of 5

Domestic Disturbance
Australian release: Commences Decemeber 13th across Australia
Cast: John Travolta, Vince Vaughan, Teri Polo, Matt O'Leary, Steve Buscemi.
Director: Harold Becker.
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