Extraordinary Measures

Here is a film similar to the 1992 drama Lorenzo’s Oil, but with far less Oscar power and far more Hallmark channel appeal.

The true story is an interesting one that resulted in a cure for the previously fatal Pompe disease that affected two children in the Crowley family, and the film details the struggle of Mr and Mrs Crowley to find the cure at all costs. In a divergence from the real story, the film couple find a nutty Professor at Nebraska University who is on the verge of a breakthrough. In real life the scientist was a Taiwan University graduate. How typical that Hollywood would change the story to make the hero American. And this is not my only gripe with the film.

Yes, the story is compelling, but that alone does not a good movie make. The performances are weak, as are the characters themselves, and the movie relies too heavily on sentiment to buoy its downfalls. This should have gone directly to DVD and gathered dust with other lazy filmmaking attempts.

Rating: 2.5 outta 5.