David Wagner (Tobey MacGuire) and his twin sister Jennifer (Reese Witherspoon) are both children of the 1990's, but they are as different as can be. While Jennifer is super-cool and rather promiscuous, David is obsessed with the world of 50's black and white television. His special obsession is a show called Pleasantville.

In the black and white world of Pleasantville, everyone knows their place. Teenaged girls wear poodle skirts. Married women clean and cook while dressed in house-dresses and pearls; their make-up and hair are always perfect. Boys all letter in one sport or another, and no one on the basketball team ever misses a shot. (Indeed, the team has never lost.) Father's come home from some undefined work location to eat the perfectly prepared nutritious meal their wife has made for the family which always eats together. Everyone in Pleasantville is nice to everyone else. Genuine confrontation doesn't exist there. No real danger exists. The fire department never has to deal with fires, only with cats stuck in trees. Every problem is resolved with a Father Knows Best episodic simplicity.

On the night of the Pleasantville television marathon, Jennifer and David find themselves transported into the black and white world of Pleasantville. David, of course, knows the plot lines and what should happen, but Jennifer is a bit lost. They become members of the television family "The Parkers." In this alternative world, David is Bud and Jennifer is Mary Sue.

Initially, the paradise of Pleasantville appeals to David, but in this world, nothing exists outside of Pleasantville. (Where Main Street ends, it begins again.) Books have no words inside of them. The weather is always perfect. (High today 72, low 72.) They have never known rain here.

Jennifer/Mary Sue is not so enchanted. She brings her 90s attitudes to this place and thus changes begin. Things begin to change from black and white to vivid color. With color, however, comes the possibility that a basketball player might miss a shot. All the repression of the 50s burbles up to the surface.

This would perhaps turn into a cliche, but the movie makers have chosen to add a message here. Those that remain in black and white begin to persecute the colored people in town. They try to turn things back. Mrs. Parker, who experiences her colorization early on, tries to hide the fact with her make-up. Finally, the colors come out.

This movie features William H. Macy as Mr. Parker, the poor bewildered father figure who comes home and goes into a tizzy because his wife has not made dinner. Macy is one of my favorite actors ever, and his presence adds considerably to this movie.

Though this movie leaves some things unresolved, overall it was pleasant - which seems fitting. It translates well onto the small screen which isn't surprising considering its meat is based in 50s television. Unfortunately, this movie is just pleasant. It could have been more. Still, it makes for a nice evening of television...even in this year.

I suspect those who are familiar with the old 50s shows will get more of the jokes here, but it is not necessary to enjoy this movie.



Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Better than Watching TV
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older