EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES

EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES

"Extraordinary Measures" is the first film by movie newcomer CBS Films. CBS (formerly once part of Columbia) made a brief, unsuccessful move into film production in the late 1960s; it was shut down in 1972. But emboldened by the high profits and seemingly stable environment film offers these days, they decide to try it again.

This time they tapped Harrison Ford, a proven money maker, to produce and star in a non-adventure film with another generally adventure oriented actor - Brendan Frazier. Somehow it works

The story centers around Pompe disease, a degenerative children's disease that I had never heard of before the film. It centers around it, but it's not about the disease nor in reality, is it about a father's love for his children.

Two of John Crowley's (Brendan Frazier)children, Megan (Meredith Droeger) and Patrick (Diego Velazquez), were diagnosed with a severe neuromuscular disorder called Pompe disease. From their local doctors, the children are given a zero percent chance of surviving.

However, with the support of his wife Aileen (Keri Russell) John continues plugging away to find an alternative treatment. His best chances lie with an eccentric doctor named Robert Stonewall (Harrison Ford) - who John calls Bob almost immediately. That actually led to one of the funniest quips by Ford - "You can call me Suzie if you have a check for $500,000."

Initially Dr. Bob is hesitant about helping John, though he has no problem self promoting his own genius. But after a couple of scenes he agrees to help provided John gets funding.

John has an insiders knowledge of the drug industry - as a business - since he is employed with Bristol Meyers; a job he will relinquish to start his own company to develop the super drug.

This is when the movie departs from being the feel good story of a father's love for his dying children or the odd couple pairing of a scientist and a businessman. It is at this point when "Extraordinary Measures" becomes a review of the inner workings of the drug industry.

We learn more about how a drug goes from theory to concept to trials to market, than we learn about the disease itself.

It is because director Tom Vaughan went in that direction that made this film work better than if it had been a mushy, tear-jerker.

"Extraordinary Measures" is based on a true story so you can Google John Crowley and learn all you want to know about the outcome. You can Wikipedia Pompe Disease and learn all you need to know about the disease. Furthermore, you can surf the web and learn all you need to know about Dr. William Canfield (That is seemingly the only name that was changed from reality - don't ask me why).

But you would be hard pressed to get an account of the inner workings of drug companies. We know them as money grubbing entities that occasionally find treatments for illness with the intent of not curing, but treating the illness. After all, the profit is in the treatment - not the cure.

Ford carries the film. He has all the good lines and as a wily vet, delivers them perfectly - with that cemented smirk on his face. Fraser was adequate, which considering his career, is the best we could hope for. Meredith Droeger was cute, but merely continued a style established by Natalie Wood ("Miracle on 34th Street") and Abigail Bresling ("No Reservations", "Definitely Maybe") as the little girl wiser beyond her years. But together, they work giving CBS Films a pretty entry film worth the price of admission. --GEOFFREY BURTON

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