Plot: What’s it about?
Jefferson Reed (Robert Townsend) is a teacher who dislikes the things he sees in his school and even within his neighborhood. It seems as though the kids have run amok and look to the local gang members as role models, instead of teachers or other positive adult figures. And someone needs to do something to not only get the kids back in class and out of trouble, but also to protect the neighborhood and make the streets safe once again. But as the police haven’t done much in either regard, it will take a brave citizen to stand up to the criminals, though Reed knows he lacks the courage to make a difference. But his outlook is altered when a green meteor not only passes overhead, but smashes right into Reed’s chest. The blast didn’t kill Reed or even injure him however, instead it gifted him with special powers. He can now take to the skies and soar through the air, absorb immense amounts of physical punishment, even enhanced mental capacities, but these powers simply cannot go unused. With a gang leader and his Golden Lords on the rampage in his neighborhood, Reed has to put on some hero’s spandex and take the fight to the criminals, though his powers sometimes fade for no apparent reason. Can he manage to beat back the gang and reclaim his neighborhood, or was the meteor’s impact a superficial one, since Reed is still too scared to fight back?
This is a fun, well intentioned picture that tries to cover too much ground and seems a little disjointed as a result. A little more focus from Robert Townsend’s writing could have shaped this one into a terrific movie, but even as it stands, The Meteor Man is a solid effort. Townsend is able to cover serious topics and get some meaningful social commentary across, but not at the expense of entertainment, which is good news. The movie has tons of humorous moments and while it takes a light approach, you can tell Townsend has real concerns with the issues broached here, so he makes sure his points come across. The premise is decent, but has been done time and time again, though we have some solid twists, like the fact that the powers wane at times and the creative ways the hero handles his newfound abilities. In addition, The Meteor Man is aimed at a family audience, so while the material is humorous, Townsend keeps it clean and makes sure all audiences can enjoy his work. That is a rare thing these days, as most movies resort to the toilet humor from the start, but The Meteor Man fails to go low with its jokes. A ton of well known folks appear here also, such as James Earl Jones, Bill Cosby, Sinbad, Luther Vandross, and ample others. If you’re looking for a funky, family safe comedy, then give The Meteor Man a spin.
As a director, Robert Townsend has shown solid potential, but often tries to take on more than he can handle. A prime example of that is this film, as Townsend wants to take on so many issues and make so many points, a number of them seem forced and that lessens the impact, to say the least. Had he taken a more refined approach, narrowed down his topics and then focused on the most important ones, The Meteor Man would have went from a solid effort to a terrific one, no doubt about it. But even with Townsend’s ambitious efforts, he manages to not only hold this movie together, but he makes it entertaining and maintains a number of his points, which come across in effective fashion. He also handles the lead role and as usual, is a lot of fun to watch and since he knows the material well, he makes the most of it to enhance his presence. Other films directed by Townsend include Hollywood Shuffle, Fraternity Boys, Little Richard, The Five Heartbeats, and B*A*P*S. The cast includes Marla Gibbs (Lost & Found, Tv’s The Jeffersons), Eddie Griffin (Undercover Brother, Double Take), Robert Guillaume (Tv’s Sports Night, The Lion King), and James Earl Jones (Claudine, A Family Thing).
Video: How does it look?
The Meteor Man is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen, with a full frame edition included on the disc’s flip side. I expected a solid treatment here, but this is an excellent visual presentation in all respects. The print is nearly pristine, with no grain to be seen and only minor, infrequent defects to mention. This means the image is never hindered and as such, it has a super sharp, well refined appearance. The vivid, rich colors pour across the screen, as hues look superb and flesh tones are natural, no complaints in the least to lodge. Just as impressive is the contrast, which comes off as stark and well balanced throughout. This is one of MGM’s finest catalog transfers of late, as you couldn’t ask for a better treatment.
Audio: How does it sound?
This movie might not sound as good as it looks, but the included 2.0 surround option has more life than you might assume. The musical soundtrack is lively and provides some nice presence, as well as some nice use of bass, which is most welcome. As this movie has elements of comic book style action, some wacky sound effects fill the surrounds in some scenes, though overall atmosphere is solid at all times. I found dialogue to be crisp and clear also, so the vocals never wind up buried in the more active elements. This disc also includes a Spanish language option, as well as subtitles in English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes the film’s theatrical trailer.
