My review was written in July 1992 after watching the movie on Paramount video cassette.
Well-meaning to a fault, "Original Intent" is a squeaky-clean plea for individuals to change their values and help the homeless. Playing like a born-again tract, this hokey feature is unlikely to soften any hard hearts in videoland.
Filmed in 1989, pic was acquired by since-quiescent Studio Three, and later by Skouras Pictures, but never released theatrically. It bears superficial resemblance to Lawrence Kasdan's subsequent conscience-tweaker "Grand Canyon" but is hopelessly square in script and execution.
Jay Richardson is a successful Los Angeles lawyer whose wife, Candy Clark, is an equally successful ad agency exec. Their contented life is turned upside down by a visit from Richardson's college chum Kurt Fuller, a relentless do-gooder who brings up plenty of nostalgia for the militant 1960s. He talks Richardson into doing some legal work to prevent Robert DoQui's ghetto shelter for the homeless from being evicted.
]Toothless vilain of the piece is Vince Edwards, a ruthless industrialist intent on not having the homeless anywhere near his proposed real estate development project. In a corny plot twist, it turns out Edwards owns a toy company that represents the biggest account for Clark's ad firm, so Richardson's fight will cost his spouse her job.
The selfish characters gradually see the light, with extremely puerile consciousness raising subplots. When Richardson takes in a homeless black youngster (Patick Malone) who's having trouble at school, the kid of course steals his electronics equipment as a test of his phony liberal attitudes.
Filmmaker Robert Marcarelli's heart is obviously in the right pae, but he lacks the style and wit of a Frank Capra needed to pull off such a self-righteous task. Guest stars including Martin Sheen, as a dazed homeless man, or Cindy Pickett, as a newly homeless mother, provide sincere, one-dimensional support.
It's nice to see Richardson, usually cast in t&a exploitation films, play a normal guy for a change and the underrated Clark is also effective in her first leading role in over a decade.
