I was a bit surprised when my podcasting partner Jen chose Romancing the Stone for our last episode. It’s not what I would call a bad movie. It’s perfectly fine. I just wasn’t all that sure there was much to talk about considering the movie is basically a light adventure-comedy with a touch of romance.
But, the episode came and went, we did have something to say, so I might as well write my review now.
After a brief Western prologue set inside of a novel-in-progress, we meet successful romance novelist Joan Wilder (Kathleen Turner). Though she is about as far from the adventure type as you can get, the call to action happens when her sister sends her a mysterious map. Joan’s sister Elaine (Mary Ellen Trainor) has been kidnapped by some disreputable types, namely antiquities smuggler Ira (Zach Norman) and Ira’s short, pessimistic cousin Ralph (Danny DeVito). Seeing no other options, Joan flies herself down to Colombia where she runs afoul of even worse criminal Colonel Zolo (Manuel Ojeda). Only the unexpected arrival of bird smuggle Jack Colton (Michael Douglas) saves Joan’s skin, and the two head off to figure out where the map goes and how to rescue Elaine, even if Jack’s initial agreement to help out comes from Joan’s offer to pay him with all the travelers checks she’s currently carrying.
That, in a nutshell, is Romancing the Stone, an early career hit for Douglas, Turner, and director Robert Zemeckis. It’s fun, but not one of my favorites. There is a lot to like about it. I’d argue, as I did on the podcast, that Turner’s Joan is much more heroic overall than Douglas’s Jack. Jack may be good for basic jungle survival, but Joan finds a way to be brave, come out of her shell, deal with people, know where the stone is really hidden, get across a ravine that Jack had written off as impossible, and she even manages to take down the bad guy. DeVito’s comedic turn as the unfortunate Ralph makes for some nice comic relief even if he and Ira don’t amount to much when the movie comes to a close. Essentially, Romancing the Stone is just a light-hearted movie told well. It isn’t particularly deep. It’s plot isn’t really much of a groundbreaker unless you count the fact Joan is more heroic and instrumental in saving the day than Jack.
If anything, Romancing the Stone may perfectly encapsulate the work of Robert Zemeckis. It isn’t exactly anything I feel is new or a must-see over and over. It’s told effectively, has some moments that stand out more than others, and is basically a charming movie that may not be the best of the genre, but at least it’s a fun movie to sit through.
That doesn’t mean I’m going to be checking out The Jewel of the Nile anytime soon, but here we are.
Grade: B
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