Hammerman Ikon

Hammerman Ikon Film Guide

Romancing the Stone
1984
***
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Cast: Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, Danny DeVito, Zach Norman

Joan Wilder writes rousing romance novels but leads a dull and lonely life. Joan discovers a new side to herself when her sister is kidnapped and she is forced to bring a mysterious treasure map to Colombia, where she meets a roguish adventurer named Jack Colton. This romantic adventure came in the wake of the Indiana Jones franchise, but it hasn't aged nearly as well as Steven Spielberg's movies. The central treasure hunt seems totally trivial and the tone and characterisation are often all over the place. However, the movie is not without charm. The years have not diminished the wonderful chemistry between Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner. Followed by The Jewel of the Nile.