John Travolta lands a plum role in this potentially intriguing drama, but even his down-to-earth charm can't keep sentimentality at bay.

It begins well, a bit like a Capra fantasy, as small-town, simple Iowa car mechanic George Malley finds himself knocked out by a white light in the sky, and suddenly develops remarkable powers that enable him to move objects without touching them, predict earthquakes and learn a new language in a matter of minutes.

So far, we're hooked. Is it magic? Is it aliens? But no, there's a dark shock ahead, and you'll end up feeling not only cheated out of a good mystery but also wishing you'd bought more tissues from the kitchen.