The Modern Adventures Of Tom Sawyer

1998, Movie, PG, 90 mins

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This mediocre, updated spin on Mark Twain's beloved story open with actor Jon Voight addressing the viewer: "You may remember me from such movies as MISSION IMPOSSIBLE," he says, "but I'm a concerned father and I know how important it is to give out children good viewing material." His paternal reassurances are less compelling when one remembers that wildly eccentric hellion Angelina Jolie is his daughter. This contemporary tale begins with the spunky Tom (Phillip Van Dyke) spending another summer with his Aunt Polly (Laraine Newman) in the sunny, suburban Stow Falls. With his geeky sidekick, Chuck (Adam Dior, a singularly untalented child actor), he vainly tries to raise money for tickets to the Planet Of Adventure theme park. Then a shady promoter (Eric Estrada) sets up a contest in which compete by doing chores in the neighberhood during a 24-hour period, with the aim of financing a recreation center. Tom and Chuck are back in business and, in true Twain fashion, Tom craftily gets other kids to do his chores (including, yes, whitewashing a fence). Tom decides to turn over a new leaf when the pretty-but-moral Becky Thatcher (Bethany Richards) disapproves: He learns the meaning of a "job well done," turns around the town bully (Jesse Flanagan) and brings down the unscrupulous promoter. The climactic wild chase finds former CHIPS star Estrada atop a very different kind of bike, and the film's supporting cast includes Arte Johnson and Kaye Ballard as "Mr. and Mrs. Grumpy Old Man." leave a comment --Dennis Dermody
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The Modern Adventures Of Tom Sawyer
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