“John Q” has all the elements of a typical Hollywood blockbuster. Tension, comedy and good old-fashioned family values mix together to form a touching, if somewhat preachy and over-the-top, story.
Denzel Washington gives a powerhouse performance as John Q. Archibald, a factory worker struggling to get extra hours to earn enough money to provide for his wife and young son, Mike.
As the movie opens, John’s worries revolve around the recent repossession of his car, but they quickly become more serious when his son collapses during a Little League game. He learns that Mike’s heart is three times larger than it should be, and if Mike does not receive a heart transplant, then he will die.
The problem is that John’s new HMO insurance plan won’t cover the procedure. After extensive money-raising efforts result in failure, he’s left with no other option but to take matters into his own hands. His solution is to grab a gun and hold the emergency room of the hospital hostage.
The film is clearly written to be an attack on the corruption of the HMO system, but it tries too hard to hammer that point in to the audience.
In their search for money, John and his wife wait in endless lines and talk to dozens of people, only to meet dead ends each time. These scenes brilliantly illustrate the inherent flaws of the system.
It really is not necessary to have the hostages spout their opinions endlessly on “evil” HMOs. The tactic transforms the hostage scenes into more prime-time television drama than memorable filmmaking.
The flaws are not substantial enough to take away enthuisiasm from enjoying the film. “John Q” is a roller coaster ride of a movie that takes you through some of the most touching family scenes in recent memory to heartbreaking hospital room scenes with Mike and ends with an heart-pounding hostage situation.
The acting is solid across the board. Washington plays the devoted father with such zeal that it would be hard to believe if the role wasn’t written for him. Kimberly Elise and Daniel Smith are both charming as John’s wife and son.
The only miscast role is Anne Heche as the director of the hospital. Her flaky behavior and laughably skimpy clothing make her more distracting than believable.
“John Q” plays up the drama beautifully during the second half, leaving the end result of the hostage situation unpredictable right up to the last second. The movie narrowly avoids falling into a sappy, cliched ending by providing a semi-satisfactory flash-forward.
“John Q” won’t win any awards, but it is a nice two-hour thriller.
