Jack Review (6.3/10): Robin Williams Grows Up Too Fast

This Jack review takes a look at Francis Ford Coppola's 1996 family dramedy, a film that asks Robin Williams to play a ten-year-old trapped in a grown man's body. It is an odd, sweet and uneven mix of comedy and heartache. Here is what works, what doesn't and whether it deserves your evening.

Jack Review: The Story So Far (No Spoilers)

Jack Powell is born with a rare condition that makes him age four times faster than everyone around him. By ten, he looks like a forty-year-old man. His parents, played by Diane Lane and Brian Kerwin, have kept him at home with a tutor for years.

The film's story begins when Jack finally enters public school and the fifth grade. He badly wants friends, a treehouse club and a normal childhood. What he gets is a crash course in curiosity, teasing and the harder lessons of growing up.

If you know the body-swap premise of Big, you will recognise the basic hook. This plot leans harder on sadness, though, because Jack is not playing at being an adult. His clock is simply running too fast.

What Works in Jack

The first half works best when it plays Jack's excitement for laughs. Watching a grown man discover the playground, a sleepover and a classroom has real charm. The comedy is gentle and rarely mean.

• A warm central idea: the film cares about childhood, and you can feel it.

• Heart in the family scenes: the Powells are protective, worried and loving without becoming cartoonish.

• Good-natured humour: the jokes lean on innocence rather than cruelty.

Coppola, better known for crime epics, directs with a soft hand here. The result is a polished, easy-to-watch family drama that never feels cynical. If you enjoy family movie reviews and feel-good stories with a lump in the throat, this fits the mould.

Jack Cast and Performances

The Jack cast is the film's biggest strength. Robin Williams plays Jack with wide-eyed sincerity and keeps the manic comic energy under control. He makes you believe this is a boy, not a man doing a bit.

Supporting players

Diane Lane brings real tenderness as Karen Powell, Jack's anxious mother. Brian Kerwin plays his father, Brian. Bill Cosby appears as Lawrence Woodruff, Jack's tutor, and Jennifer Lopez plays Miss Marquez, his teacher. Fran Drescher turns up as Dolores Durante, a single mother, and adds comic colour.

The supporting roles are small but likeable. Nobody steals the picture from Williams, and nobody needs to.

Where Jack Stumbles

The biggest problem is tone. The film swings between slapstick, earnest drama and tragedy, and the gear changes are not always smooth. One scene wants you to laugh, and the next asks you to feel something heavy.

The script, written by James DeMonaco and Gary Nadeau, also leans on familiar beats. Bullies, a big game and a speech or two arrive right on schedule. Some viewers will find the sentiment too sweet, and some of the gags feel dated today.

The film is also labelled as an action movie in some listings, but that is misleading. It is far closer to a comedy-drama than anything with set pieces. Browse our Action movie reviews if that is what you are after.

Is Jack Worth Watching?

Yes, Jack is worth watching if you are a Robin Williams fan or want a gentle, heartfelt 1990s family film. It is not a classic, and its mixed tone keeps it from greatness. Still, the lead performance and the sincere core make it a pleasant watch.

Audiences have been kind but not wild about it, with a TMDB audience score of 6.3 out of 10. That feels about right. Expect a flawed but warm movie rather than a masterpiece.

At 113 minutes, it runs a little long for its slight story. The pacing sags in the middle, yet the emotional payoff of the central idea keeps you invested. For more crowd-pleasers in a similar vein, try our comedy movie reviews.

You can find the full credits and trivia on the Jack page on IMDb.

Who Will Enjoy Jack

• Fans of Robin Williams who like his softer, more sincere roles.

• Families looking for a gentle PG-13 film with a kind message about growing up.

• Viewers who enjoy 1990s nostalgia and high-concept comedies like Big.