Mr. Destiny is in many ways similar to Back to the Future, but it is sort of the anti-Back to Future because of its message. In Back to the Future, problems are fixed by going back in time and making changes that result in a greater level of material existence, in Mr. Destiny we are taught to simply appreciate what we already have.
Oddly, the ending muddles this message. After we have learned with Belushi that riches are corrupt and un-endearing, and that a simpler life of love is his choice of life, he is lavished with a six-figure salary and a company Mercedes,. This opens some dark possibilities; let's hope he's learned his lesson.
The movie is very movie-like. Take Belushi's lingering befuddlement at what is going on and all of his plot questions, the answers of which are clearly directed at all of the children watching the movie.
Also the baseball is really embellished for effect. Because of the percentages involved, failing to get a hit (esp. a home run) is a lot different than a truly horrific moment like dropping a pop-up or letting a grounder go through your legs with two outs. That's not to say that someone wouldn't long regret having not gotten a home-run or key hit, but in that situation having a teammate sneer "way to go, BURroughs" and being a town-goat is ridiculous and only realistic if he pulled a Bill Buckner like move. Like I said, you are always very conscious of it being a movie, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Surprisingly, the antagonists are pretty compelling, almost believable, which is rare for such a movie-like atmosphere. Most movies in this mold include a one-dimensional villain who is motivated seemingly only by evil, a cheap character to give the cheap-thrill of being put in his place or humiliated. Such a character is notably lacking in Mr. Destiny. The threatening characters, Courteney Cox and a gem named Niles Pender, are unsavory but somewhat realistic people, driven by understandable motives like spite and money. The key is that their behavior and level of antagonism is reflective of the different actions and personalities of John Belushi, which, in an interesting twist, makes him the villain.
The potential of the Rene Russo character is a little lost, one problem with the weight of the movie is that Belushi is in his altered life as a visitor, and the potential feelings (good or bad) he has built for 10-15 years with his other-dimensional wife (Russo) are not present in him, only implied.
Another thing that isn't addressed is the sheer insult to Linda Hamilton by having him want out of his life. She says to him something like, "If things were so great, why did you want to change?" and he answers with "I guess I didn't realize what I had" which in a way is more insulting in that he didn't say something like, "I didn't think I'd lose you."
Lastly, what was up with the dog? After having a woman try to kill him, and while being chased by the police for a murder he didn't commit and getting fired all over the fact that a man he knows has been murdered, he doesn't "give up" in disappointment until he accidentally runs over his own dog? Then in the end of the move, he is happy (but under control) when seeing his old wife again and getting the great new job, but he's only ecstatic when he sees the dog alive again?
Oddly, the ending muddles this message. After we have learned with Belushi that riches are corrupt and un-endearing, and that a simpler life of love is his choice of life, he is lavished with a six-figure salary and a company Mercedes,. This opens some dark possibilities; let's hope he's learned his lesson.
The movie is very movie-like. Take Belushi's lingering befuddlement at what is going on and all of his plot questions, the answers of which are clearly directed at all of the children watching the movie.
Also the baseball is really embellished for effect. Because of the percentages involved, failing to get a hit (esp. a home run) is a lot different than a truly horrific moment like dropping a pop-up or letting a grounder go through your legs with two outs. That's not to say that someone wouldn't long regret having not gotten a home-run or key hit, but in that situation having a teammate sneer "way to go, BURroughs" and being a town-goat is ridiculous and only realistic if he pulled a Bill Buckner like move. Like I said, you are always very conscious of it being a movie, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Surprisingly, the antagonists are pretty compelling, almost believable, which is rare for such a movie-like atmosphere. Most movies in this mold include a one-dimensional villain who is motivated seemingly only by evil, a cheap character to give the cheap-thrill of being put in his place or humiliated. Such a character is notably lacking in Mr. Destiny. The threatening characters, Courteney Cox and a gem named Niles Pender, are unsavory but somewhat realistic people, driven by understandable motives like spite and money. The key is that their behavior and level of antagonism is reflective of the different actions and personalities of John Belushi, which, in an interesting twist, makes him the villain.
The potential of the Rene Russo character is a little lost, one problem with the weight of the movie is that Belushi is in his altered life as a visitor, and the potential feelings (good or bad) he has built for 10-15 years with his other-dimensional wife (Russo) are not present in him, only implied.
Another thing that isn't addressed is the sheer insult to Linda Hamilton by having him want out of his life. She says to him something like, "If things were so great, why did you want to change?" and he answers with "I guess I didn't realize what I had" which in a way is more insulting in that he didn't say something like, "I didn't think I'd lose you."
Lastly, what was up with the dog? After having a woman try to kill him, and while being chased by the police for a murder he didn't commit and getting fired all over the fact that a man he knows has been murdered, he doesn't "give up" in disappointment until he accidentally runs over his own dog? Then in the end of the move, he is happy (but under control) when seeing his old wife again and getting the great new job, but he's only ecstatic when he sees the dog alive again?