Watching Romancing the Stone in 1984 was a pivotal moment for me. It was the first time I walked out of a theatre with my head completely in the clouds. I was giddy with delight and proclaimed to my family, “That’s my favorite movie of All Time.” It’s the first time I was ever struck by the concept of an All-Time Favorite Film. I saw the movie again the very next weekend and held a party when it premiered on HBO, where I would watch it every time it came on. It’s the first film where I became obsessed to read behind the scenes information. I learned who Robert Zemeckis was and he became my first Favorite Director. Romancing the Stone held onto the title until I saw Back to the Future. Having memorized every line of dialogue, I never felt the need to trade in my worn-out VHS for a DVD copy.
I still love this mostly funny, rollercoaster of a movie. The great chemistry between Douglas and Turner is still there. There are a lot of clever touches, such as the Easter Bunny and the Danny Trejo style tough guys who have a soft spot for Joan Wilder’s trashy romance novels. Alfonso Arau is hilarious as their leader. Kathleen Turner does amazing great Oscar-caliber work as she transforms from mousy writer to tough and sexy heroine, and the transformation comes with surprises towards the end when she must assert herself to save her sister. This was my introduction to Michael Douglas, who is clearly written as an Indiana Jones knock-off, but Douglas gives the part a different spin. Similarly, Zemeckis borrows from his mentor Steven Spielberg, but lets his own edgier approach come through.
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