Domestic Disturbance (2001)

Domestic Disturbance (2001): Dir: Harold Becker / Cast: John Travolta, Vince Vaughn, Teri Polo, Steve Buscemi, Matt O'Leary: Title refers to trauma in a small area with John Travolta starring as a boat manufacturer divorced but maintains a good relationship with his son. His son is known for mischief and the news of his mother's new engagement doesn't help matters. Formula plot regards John Travolta investigating allegations made by his son that her fiancée committed murder. Vince Vaughn plays a public figure with a nasty side whom his son claims burned a body. Formula trash right up to its dumber than dumb climax where certain people just happen to end up in particular places at the right time. Directing by Harold Becker leaves much to be desired. He previously made the terrible Mercury Rising, another film about a kid in pearl. Travolta's role does him little justice as it is just by the numbers. Vaughn always seems to be in particular places at the convenience of the screenplay. Teri Polo is suppose to be blind to common sense. Steve Buscemi is wasted as Vaughn's former associate whom will obviously end up dead. Matt O'Leary plays the kid who reason for focus is to be threatened and being fakely heroic. With nothing surprising or suspenseful, viewers are left with a real yawner. Any theme presented is replaced with disturbance in the form of bullshit. Score: 1 / 10

For me, this was a trite movie with boring performances from Vaughn, Polo and the boy actor, and predictable dialogue and plot. Though it was professionally competent (no shaking sets or major continuity errors), I would like to know where US$53 million went. Why on earth do you need US$53 million for a "suburban domestic" drama with a small cast and no special effects? Such cookie-cutter tales and "phoned in" acting were typical of the old black-and-white B-movies of the '40s and '50s made for maybe US$2 million (allowing for inflation).Hollywood needs to get a grip. Many a far superior film is made outside the US (and a even a few inside the US) for a tenth of that budget.For half hour this was quite watchable. Then Steve Buscemi left us and the movie went into a coma. I award an extra point for his short contribution, otherwise a 4.

Throughout the movie Domestic Disturbance, there was a lot of suspicion, especially after Danny's mother got remarried. When her new husband killed someone and after the police didn't believe Danny, I felt bad for him. The scene when Danny and his stepfather were alone in his bedroom at night was creepy, especially when his stepfather pushed him up against the wall. That was scary. Throughout the movie, it got scary. The stepfather gave me and Danny the creeps. When Danny was alone with him in the bedroom again before court and in the bathroom, I could tell the boy looked scared regardless. Those scenes were worse than a scene in Child's Play 2 when Andy woke up and realized Chucky tied him to the bed. I said to myself "Please tell me he's dreaming that." He was alone and that was creepy. Anyways, Matt O Leary played an unexpected role. Ican't believe he was a juvenile delinquent and that he cries wolf unnecessarily. When he did tell the truth, the cops didn't believe him. The parents didn't believe him until the father had second thoughts. I like the scene when Danny and his mother were trying to get out of the house. She finally realized her son was telling the truth. For the record, when they got in the car, she should have locked the door, made sure our seat belts were on, opened the garage door, and drive far away as possible. I'm glad his stepfather got electrocuted to death. It serves him right. Now he can burn in hell. I felt bad for the mother towards the end when she had to be hospitalized. I think she had a miscarriage. Plus, it was nice for the police to apologize to Danny. It was like being treated like royalty by the authorities. Overall, Matt was terrific. I also liked the scene when he snuck out since it showed his backside. I have a tendency to look at a guy's behind, especially attractive guys. I may sound crazy but don't blame me, blame hormones. Besides, Matt's a cute actor and he's got a cute backside for an actor.

If you like movies about people who use sincerity to hide a dark side, then "Domestic Disturbance" is for you. But if you're looking for something with a twist on the genre, then you'd better look elsewhere. This movie has absolutely nothing fresh in it, but it makes up for that as pure entertainment. Unlike "The Stepfather", this one has a new character, the ex of the woman whom the stepfather is about to marry. Stop me if you've heard this one: A man's ex-wife marries a very suspicious man, kid starts suspecting something's wrong, kid witnesses his evil stepfather kill someone, everyone (but the uncle) doubts the kid until it's almost too late, evil stepfather tries beating the hell out of everyone, everyone else lives happily ever after.*** out of ****