THE BOY IN THE PLASTIC BUBBLE

title: THE BOY IN THE PLASTIC BUBBLE

year: 1976

cast: John Travolta, Robert Reed, Glynnis O'Connor

rating: ***1/2

A cute little boy born without immunities has to live in a plastic bubble and grows up to be John Travolta, who not only disco dances with his pet hamster but eventually, wearing an orange space suit, goes to high school and falls in love with the girl next door. One of the most tortuously bizarre television movies in history and a lot of fun. In one scene Travolta is carted in a plastic incubator to a beach party and is riled by fellow teens; another he's discussing masturbation to a cancer patient. Yet despite the high degree of camp value, this classic time-capsule from the seventies is also thoroughly involving, entertaining, and won't bore you for a single moment: mostly thanks to Glynnis O'Connor as Travolta's love-interest, looking beyond fantastic and providing our ailing hero a chance for possible freedom.