Funny 'Space' gets lost in cliché

"Danger, Will Robinson." Yes, the crew from the Jupiter 2 is back in space in a jazzed-up and special effects-laden remake of the popular '60's television program. Although it boasts a fabulous cast and an uneven but funny script, "Lost In Space" is unable to take full advantage of its potential.

The movie deals with the struggles of the Robinson family who, in an attempt to save the people of Earth, take off in Jupiter 2 (their spaceship) for Alpha Prime (a distant planet) and end up lost in space. The root of the Robinsons' problems is the dastardly Dr. Smith, a terrorist who sabotages their ship and then ends up stuck on it.

Courtesy of New Line Cinema "Don't ever disrespect my spacesuit!" Heather Graham rolls into her role as Judy Robinson in "Lost In Space."

William Hurt stars as John Robinson, the patriarch of the Robinson family. Hurt gives his usual convincing performance with a character that has become distant from his family because of his fixation with the trip to Alpha One. Mimi Rogers plays Maureen Robinson, John's wife and the character who tries to keep the family together as their departure from Earth draws near. The part doesn't give Rogers much to do other than hug her children whenever things get scary and toss an occasional one-liner in her husband's direction.

REVIEW
	Lost in Space 2 stars At Briarwood and Showcase

Dr. Smith, the archenemy of the Robinsons, is played by Gary Oldman. The character enters the film in an exceptional shot of Smith standing in the middle of a vast desert, his face hidden in the shadows. While Smith is evil and cunning in his doings on the ship, the role doesn't give Oldman the chance to show how bad he can be. Having recently been ferocious as a villain in both "The Fifth Element" and "Air Force One," the subtle Dr. Smith is too weak and sneaky to evoke any true fear or intimidation from the audience.

The most interesting relationship of the film is between Jupiter 2 pilot Don West (Matt LeBlanc) and Judy Robinson (Heather Graham). Graham is glorious at playing hard to get and fends off the relentless pursuit of West with a witty array of sharp dialogue. The clashes between the free-spirited West and the uptight Judy are quite funny and provide some of the movie's higher points. The roles represent large steps forward for both actors. Having been involved in several prominent independent films, including "Boogie Nights" and "Swingers," Graham shows that she can hold her own in a big-budget Hollywood action movie. And for LeBlanc, well, it's a much-needed step away from "Ed."

Relative newcomer Jack Johnson turns in a humorous and memorable performance as the brilliant but troubled Will Robinson. Fascinated by computers and robots, Will has a very hard time getting along with his family yet often ends up being the one saving the day.

Courtesy of New Line Cinema Now Matt LeBlanc can play his own butt double in a "Lost in Space" fantasy sequence on "Friends."

The movie storyline is pretty simple to start with, but it gets tangled up when Jupiter 2 lands on a foreign planet. There is a fair amount of time spent getting the ship into space after which it doesn't take long for the Robinsons to get lost.

Later on, the ship crashes on a planet and doesn't have the capability to launch without getting some more power. The only source that contains the necessary amounts of power is inside a time warp on the planet. It is at this point that the movie loses any momentum that it had built. The plot gets into overlapping characters from different periods of time and requires a tremendous suspension of the common sense of the viewer. During this time period, the already strained relationship between Will and his father is drawn out to unbelievable and unnecessary extremes. Those behind the movie are trying to incorporate a story of father and son learning to love, but frankly, it doesn't work. This one area of the film is so unbearable to watch that it soils the entire moviegoing experience.

"Lost In Space" has some funny lines, spectacular special effects shots, and interesting sets, but not much else. Despite these enjoyable moments the film is unable to overcome the horrendous time warp situation.

04-06-98