Watch The Boy in the Plastic Bubble

The Boy in the Plastic Bubble is a 1976 made-for-TV movie directed by Randal Kleiser and starring John Travolta, Glynnis O'Connor, and Robert Reed. The film is loosely based on the real-life story of David Vetter, a young boy who lived in a plastic bubble to protect him from an immune disorder. The story follows Tod Lubitch (John Travolta), a teenager born with a rare immune deficiency that prevents him from being exposed to any germs or bacteria. His parents, played by Glynnis O'Connor and Robert Reed, are understandably overprotective and have kept him isolated in their sterile house for his entire life. Tod's only contact with the outside world is through a high-tech plastic bubble that he lives in.

Despite his isolation, Tod is an intelligent and curious young man. He spends his time reading books and playing games, but he yearns for more. When he falls in love with his next-door neighbor, Gina Biggs (Glynnis O'Connor), he becomes determined to break free from his bubble and experience life outside.

Throughout the film, we see Tod struggle to reconcile his desire for freedom with the understanding that venturing outside could ultimately kill him. The tension between his desire for independence and his parents' desire to keep him safe creates a compelling emotional arc for the story.

The film also tackles themes of isolation, love, and human connection. As Tod interacts more with the outside world, he begins to realize the limitations of his own existence. He yearns to touch and feel the world, to experience the simple pleasures that most people take for granted. And as he falls deeper in love with Gina, he discovers that there is a tangible, physical component to love that he has never experienced before.

Despite its relatively simple premise, The Boy in the Plastic Bubble is a well-acted and emotionally resonant film. John Travolta, in particular, delivers an excellent performance as Tod, managing to convey both his frustration at his situation and his boyish charm. Glynnis O'Connor is also great as Gina, bringing a warmth and empathy to her role.

Additionally, the film is surprisingly well-directed, with Randal Kleiser employing a number of visually inventive techniques to convey Tod's isolation and loneliness. The scenes inside the bubble are shot with a foggy, dreamlike quality, while the scenes outside the bubble are often stark and cold.

Overall, The Boy in the Plastic Bubble is a touching and thought-provoking movie that explores deep questions about what it means to be human. While it may seem dated and melodramatic to modern audiences, it remains a moving portrait of one boy's struggle to define himself in a world that wants to keep him isolated.

The Boy in the Plastic Bubble is a 1976 tv movie. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.8 and a MetaScore of 70.