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Jeff Fahey, Pierce Brosnan, Jenny Wright, Geoffrey Lewis, Mark Bringelson ... see more see more... , Jeremy Slate , Dean Norris , Craig Benton , Duane Byrne , Colleen Coffey , Frank Collison , Mara Duronslet , Troy Evans , Randall Fontana , Steffan Gregory Foster , Michael Gregory , Joe Hart , Craig Hosking , Doug Hutchison , John Laughlin , Rosalee Mayeux , Austin O'Brien , Denney Pierce , Dale Raoul , Roger Rook , Daniel Silver , Joey Simrin , Jonathan Smart , Michael Valverde , Ray Lykins , Sally Dennison , Patrick Rush , Jim Landis

Loosely based on a short story by Stephen King, The Lawnmower Man was the first film to explore virtual reality technology and boasts a dazzling collection of computer-animated sequences. The story co... read more read more...ncerns the slightly-mad scientist Dr. Lawrence Angelo (Pierce Brosnan), who as part of a secret government agency called Cybertech has been experimenting with something termed "intelligence enhancement." By using drugs and virtual reality technology, Angelo has managed to boost the IQ of experimental chimps. But he also makes them more aggressive and, bit by bit, they go insane. When one of his animal subjects goes on a rampage, Angelo decides to go for a human guinea pig instead -- Jobe Smith (Jeff Fahey), a slightly retarded man who cuts his lawn. Not only do Jobe's intelligence and sex-drive improve thanks to Angelo's regimen, but he also develops extrasensory perception. As Jobe's mental and emotional state keeps increasing, so does his strength. As he gains more power, Jobe becomes angrier and more vindictive until he vows to get even with all the town's people that patronized him and treated him badly. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Flixster Users

35% liked it

45,980 ratings

Critics

47% liked it

19 critics

R, 1 hr. 48 min.

Directed by: Brett Leonard

Release Date: March 6, 1992

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DVD Release Date: September 30, 1997

Stats: 992 reviews

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Jeff Fahey and Pierce Brosnan the lawnmower man The Lawnmower Man
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Flixster Reviews (992)

  • aquateen2
    December 30, 2011
    aquateen2
    A fairly average thriller that isn't in any way memorable. Dont get me wrong, it's not a bad movie but the brilliantly ingenius premise should have had a much better result. Bits of the movie are good but it's overlong and gives off jiggy legs too much. This was supposed to be a ... read moretechnical breakthrough of cinema but the effects are terribly outdated. 2 years after this was made The Mask was released. I think that would be called the real special effects breakthrough. Lawnmower man on a positive note is absolute fluff that casn be enjoyed on one viewing but you'll never think to watch it again.
  • Deano78
    August 4, 2011
    Deano78
    Wow looking so outdated now, and Virtual reality is barely used these days. Didn't take off like it was predicted. This is based on a short story by Stephen King, surprised to see a young Pierce Brosnan in this. The graphics for the virtual reality scenes look like an arcade game... read more from the era. It's not very original, yet some how got a sequel a few years later. For a good film about Virtual reality check out the much better eXistenZ!
  • SirPant
    September 22, 2009
    SirPant
    Oh dear, it was supposed to be so much more! It claimed to be the CGI breakthrough, that ?it doesn't get any better than this?! Then Jurassic Park came out! Oops!
  • stormyweather980
    September 10, 2009
    stormyweather980
    Dr. Angelo (Pierce Brosnan) is a scientist who is studying the effects of virtual reality on the mind of a monkey. The experiments don't go well with the monkey, so now Dr. Angelo wants to try his virtual reality experiments on a retarded man named Jobe (Jeff Fahey). Jobe is know... read moren around the area for being able to put stuff together and as being the 'lawnmower man' because he is the best there is at mowing lawns. Dr. Angelo is going to try to make Jobe smarter with these experiments. But if Dr. Angelo doesn't watch out, he might make Jobe too smart to where he'll be able to control just about anything with his mind.
    "The Lawnmower Man" is a great movie. I don't see any reason why it isn't averaging 4 or 5 stars. It has spectacular special effects, a good job of acting by Jeff Fahey, and it really is an entertaining movie. The virtual reality effects aren't the only good thing about this movie, it has a good story (which came from Stephen King), and it's just a great movie that anybody should be able to enjoy. If you like movies about virtual reality, or good thrillers with great special effects, I recommend getting "The Lawnmower Man." NOTE: That was my Amazon review from the year 2001. I've always loved this movie and found it to be underrated. Love it!
  • matertenebraum
    July 27, 2009
    matertenebraum
    As you've probably seen, a lot of people have have seriously slagged off this film. In most cases, its because of the unusual plot. But I think that this is what makes this movie.

    Your also bound to be confused with what the plot is, but its not complicated. Pierce Brosnan (Know... read moren as 'Angelo')is a scientist who works for a company that specialise in virtual reality and computer generation. Brosnan has been working on a project which enables people to become smarter, but has had tough luck finding volunteers. However, his luck changes when he realises that his friend 'Jobe', a lawnmower man who is slightly backwards could be the perfect specimen. Angelos tests prove successful, and things go great. But as in all films, there's a downside.. Jobe becomes too smart and takes revenge on people as his life becomes estranged with computer generation.

    It would be cruel to tell you any more - the film is marvellous in the directing department. Jobe's frustration is well screened an some of the ideas are great. Even Brosnan plays a great part in this film and makes us forget he is 007 in years to come.

    The CGI in this film is what makes it. OK, I have to admit, Terminator 2's special effects are in a different league, but the effects in this film are not supposed to be super realistic. They are supposed to be a vision (in most cases) of virtual reality - how a computer generated world would look. They are engaging, but dated. Still, I think there effective and entertaining. some people say this film is a thriller, an in ways their right. But don't get mis led and think this is a horror film - it isn't, its more psychological.

    So, the final verdict. If your into films that are certainly different than the usual s**t we get these days, I would recommend this definitely. However, if you have no idea what virtual reality is or have no patience, then don't bother. Classic stuff!
  • superclerk25
    April 26, 2008
    superclerk25
    Pretty good movie but these days the tech is a little dated.
  • djdemersseman
    February 7, 2008
    djdemersseman
    It's like Forrest Gump (with a computer) but where everything becomes more retarded as the main character progresses in life.

    Plus, everyone knows you cant have a flying lawn mower death scene without the gore.
  • jabcdef
    October 23, 2007
    jabcdef
    I think this movie is very under-rated. Strange how Virtual Reality headsets never really took off. If you like computers then you should probably see this.
  • YosemiteSamFan
    July 26, 2007
    YosemiteSamFan
    A successful military scientist (Pierce Brosnan) experiments on the low-IQ groundskeeper Jobe, and ends up opening his mind to wonderous new possibilities. But his brain evolves into something dangerous, and Jobe "The Lawnmower Man" takes over the whole computer network and gains... read more god-like powers. Watch out! There's some ground-breaking computer animation (for the time) once Jobe for things inside the computer world. It's eye candy. Check out the Mind's Eyes series of movies if you want to see some more CGI goodness.
  • zillionaire
    January 22, 2007
    zillionaire
    Jeff Fahey should've been a huge star..

View All The Lawnmower Man Reviews

Critic Reviews

Stefan Birgir Stefansson
January 10, 2008
Stefan Birgir Stefansson, sbs.is

extremely outdated

Clint Morris
March 10, 2005
Clint Morris, Moviehole

High-Tec, High-Tense Fun....Slickly directed, Fittingly performed

Rob Vaux
March 3, 2005
Rob Vaux, Flipside Movie Emporium

Notable mainly for the fact that Stephen King sued over the use of his name.

Luke Y. Thompson
January 8, 2004
Luke Y. Thompson, New Times

Cool effects, particularly for the time -- story could have used more logic, though.

Widgett Walls
May 13, 2003
Widgett Walls, Needcoffee.com

Every once in a while an idea comes along that's so lame, it surprises even me. This...was three of those times.

Michael Szymanski
October 25, 2002
Michael Szymanski, Zap2it.com

Pierce as a kind dad in a fun pre-pubescent tale

Ken Hanke
July 30, 2002
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Fair thriller

James Sanford
July 29, 2002
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette

begins well, then runs out of gas

March 26, 2009
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Vincent Canby
August 30, 2004
Vincent Canby, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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    • Jobe Smith: By the year 2001 there won't be a person who isn't hooked into it...and hooked into me.
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The Lawnmower Man Trivia

  • A retarded landscaper is the subject of a virtual reality experiment in what 1992 sci-fi film?  Answer »
  • The tagline "God made him simple. Science made him a god. Now, he wants revenge" is from what movie?  Answer »
  • In the smash-hit film "Lawnmower Man 2: Beyond Cyberspace", who says the following line? "You're just a lawnmower man, Jobe!"  Answer »
  • Complete the line from the smash-hit film "Lawnmower Man 2: Beyond Cyberspace": Dr. Trace: "We came to ________, Jobe."  Answer »
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