THE PHILADELPHIA EXPERIMENT

1984 rating: **1/2

When two naval officers are thrust from the 1940's into the 1980's, they must literally get past the very dated special effects: after which, THE PHILADELPHIA EXPERIMENT becomes an involving road film as Michael Paré, as a stranger in a strange land along with fellow shipmate Bobby Di Cicco, aren’t sure what sent them through that lightning-driven portal into this very different era: jet fighter planes roar across the sky, people have multicolored Mohawks, men dress like women, and a former actor has become president.

Nancy Allen serves a double-shift as the potential love interest and the only person willing to partially trust Paré in this unbelievable predicament, driving him from point A to B with the military on their trail.

The desert highway chases, as the protagonists begin figuring out what caused the time shift – having to do with a top secret Naval experiment to deflect vessels from radar – are filmed well, and Paré and Allen have that essential chemistry reminiscent of golden age melodramas. But there should have been more of the fast-paced adventure by the pawns and less exposition by the players: trying to move the pieces around a maze that, even after the resolution, still doesn't quite make sense.