Gripping story with well-crafted characters

Clever, believable, and super fun to watch. It totally has replay value.

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

It's 1939. Captain Daniel McCormick (Mel Gibson) is an American test pilot. His lifelong girlfriend Helen gets run over and is stuck in a coma. His friend Harry Finley (George Wendt) is working on a secret cryogenics experiment. Daniel asks him to freeze him for a year or until Helen gets better. It's then present day. Nat Cooper (Elijah Wood) and his friend Felix are playing in an Army warehouse. They accidentally release the cryogenic pod. Nat's mother Claire (Jamie Lee Curtis) doesn't believe them. Nobody at the base believes Daniel either. Daniel tracks down the boys who help him to track down Finley.I want it to have more tension. It just doesn't have a great intensity. It tries to be romantic which is awkward because he was just parted from the love of his life. The aborted romance is indicative of a movie with a lot of possibilities but not as successful as it should be. I really like the first half but the movie has a bunch of little problems. I was OK with the movie until of course, Daniel has to fly the plane. It's like J. J. Abrams was a little too clever with the script. It's the same thing with the aging and the romantic ending. I just think the movie could be a lot better.

After being reminded how good an actor Mel Gibson can be in Expendables 3, I have decided to revisit some of his earlier work. Today I decided to go with 1992's "Forever Young". A movie that seems to have been forgotten over time. Plot In A Paragraph: It's 1939 and test pilot Daniel McCormick (Mel Gibson) asks his best friend Harry (George Wendt) to use him as a guinea pig for a cryogenics experiment. He wants to be frozen for a year so that he doesn't have to watch the love of his life, Helen lying in a coma. The next thing Daniel knows is that he's been awoken in 1992.This was made around the time when Mel Gibson was more know. For being Mad Max and madder Martin Riggs in the "Lethal Weapon" movies. This was probably attempt to break away from that type of image. Here he makes a charming and likable romantic lead in a sweet little movie. The always fun to watch George Wendt, and Jamie Lee Curtis offer solid support. But Elijah Wood is the real star amongst the supporting cast. He shoes the early promise that would lead him to a successful career as an adult. I should also mention Jerry Goldsmiths score is beautiful.It's a pity Gibson didn't try more of these movies, as he truly is engaging. One can't help but wonder what other wonderful films we may have missed out onGibson is truly a great actor, and hopefully he can sort his personal problems and demons out, because as we all know Hollywood loves comebacks.

The first time I watched this movie was because I enjoy aviation related movies and most things with a 1940's atmosphere. By the time it was over it became my favorite Mel Gibson movie of all time. He is totally believable in an unbelievable situation...and a wonderful story about courage, morals, values, coming to the rescue, commitment, and yes...love. Great action scenes converge with a truly touching story. One of the more subtly sad and warming, often lost sub-stories, is when it is revealed that Daniel's best friend Harry died trying to save him during a fire which ultimately lead to the 'Experiment' being lost in time. Everything about this story moves along at a wonderful pace...all the pieces believably fall into their alloted time line, yet there is enough mystery and surprise to keep it interesting and riveting. Often overlooked is how much the marvelous soundtrack adds to the effect of the movie...absolutely wonderful movie...and this comes from a guy who normally doesn't care much for the warm fuzzy mushy kind of picture shows.

Hitting just before Sleepless in Seattle (which would be released six months later), this movie was very well done indeed and helped usher in the romantic comedy era of the 90's. Suspend disbelief about the possibility of being cryogenically frozen and then brought back, and this movie works. It's warm, it's witty and it's never overplayed or over-dramatic. Mel's performance in the beginning of the movie when he is apprehensive about popping the question is perfect as he projects probably where every guy has been at some point when he is about to ask. You just want to tell him "ASK!!!" but he can't. It's genuine. Very good date movie. Highly recommend.