Two of a Kind - for Travolta/Newton-John fans
by Joe Mongelli
When a movie stars John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, people think of instant success right? Wrong, according to the crities who destroyed Two of a Kind.
Two of a Kind had all the earmarks of a Christmas season success; Grease, the last Travolta/Newton-John collaboration, set money-making records and both stars are coming off from a year of red hot popularity.
After these facts one should wonder why Two of a Kind had bad reviews. Well, a film needs something called a plot. Yes, this film has a plot, but not a very good one. Travolta plays Zack Melon, a novelty inventor, that must pay loan sharks or get his ears cut off. Newton-John plays Debbie Wilder, a bank teller and aspiring actress who becomes involved with Zack after he stages a ridiculous robbery at her window.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Being decides that the world is corrupt and a second flood is needed to start over. A group of guardian angels stall the flood by picking Zack and Debbie, the embodiments of God’s dissatisfaction with the human race, to prove humans are worthy of life. So, the unsuspecting Zack and Debbie must perform a great sacrifice for one another to save the human race.
If screen chemistry exists then Travolta and Newton-John are definitions of it. Their scenes together are most enjoyable and funny. The scenes that pit the angels against the villainous Beazley (Oliver Reed) are by far the most creative and funniest. The film does have its problems, but has several strong points. The interaction between Travolta and Newton-John make them the marketable Hollywood couple of the future. Another plus is the supporting cast which includes Charles Durning, Scatman Crothers, Beatrice Straight and Castulo Guerra as the angels.
The film’s soundtrack which includes “Two of a Kind” and several other songs from Olivia Newton-John, “Ask the Lonely” by Journey and selections from Chicago and Boz Scaggs is another of the film’s few strong points.
Despite the poor reviews the movie still held a top money making slot for the Christmas season. If one is a fan of either John Travolta or Olivia Newton-John, then the film is worth seeing; however, if one is a fan of both, then Two of a Kind is a must.