I am not a romantic, nor am I swayed easily by romantic films. The very thought of a pure romance film makes me gag, and the last one I watched, I slept through. Luckily, Phenomenon, while being a subtle love film, maintains a good sense of entertainment, and the romance isn't nauseating at all. It is an emotional film however... it makes happy, it makes you sad, it makes you amazed, and it makes you laugh, but most of all, it makes you feel.

John Travolta is one of the best actors in Hollywood. He is a warm, realistic, and talented actor who hasn't given a bad performance in any of the movies I've seen. In Phenomenon, he is no less, and maybe a little bit more. I couldn't think of anybody else playing the role of George, and if there were, I don't think the movie would have been as good. John Travolta is convincing, and really makes you feel for the character.

While things do take a turn for the worse, Phenomenon has a large portion of upbeat, and sometimes comical, scenes. The name may be a misnomer, pointing towards the science-fiction department, but Phenomenon maintains an original storyline which rich characters and an enjoyable plot. Some parts did lag, and I found myself falling asleep, but for the most part, my attention was fixed on the screen. Adding to the enjoyment level was Forest Whitaker, who easily was the best supporting character out of the bunch.

A lot of things could have gone wrong with Phenomenon, but they didn't, and I would recommend this to anyone, whether you like romantic films or not.

Review by Erik Samdahl unless otherwise indicated.