Jack (film)



A 1996 film by Francis Ford Coppola starring Robin Williams as a young boy named Jack who, due to an extremely rare disease that is never officially named, ages at four times the normal human rate. The film explores his unique situation, from being the only 10-year-old who can buy pornography, to being mistaken for his elementary school's principal, to all the medical problems he must face as his expedient aging continues. As one might guess, the entire film is chock full of Tear Jerker moments.


 * Artistic License: Biology: There is a rare disease called Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome, in which a child from an early age exhibits rapid aging of the body, but not the mind. The longest they usually live is to their early 20s. The movie disease seems to match this pretty well, save for the looking like a normal adult part. Depending on your interpretation, this may be justified by Rule of Symbolism and An Aesop about doing what you can with the time you have.
 * The film does in fact mention progeria, and that it's not what Jack has, just that it's in the same general area of "aging diseases".
 * Award Bait Song: Star by Bryan Adams.
 * Good Parents: Given the situation and circumstances, Jack's parents are practically saints.
 * Hot for Teacher: Why not Develop a crush? She's Jennifer Lopez!
 * Mood Whiplash: Between being the fun kid-friendly comedy it was marketed as (see below; heck, see the poster on this page) to the bleak, depressing Tear Jerker it really was.
 * Never Trust a Trailer: It was pretty much marketed as Big WITH ROBIN WILLIAMS!.
 * Not Allowed to Grow Up: Completely subverted; Jack can't help but grow up.
 * Rapid Aging
 * Shrinking Violet: Jack, when he first goes to school.