John Lone's five-star performance makes this weak vehicle watchable. The premise of a man being revived after 40,000 years is compelling, and I'm not sure how else it could be played seriously. Still, the plot is pretty conventional. Timothy Hutton is the obligatory lone expert with the proper morals. He goes around saying, "What's happening? Why wasn't I told? We have no right to do that! I'm the only decent person in this movie!!!" Lindsay Crouse is his, "Yes, I want to do what's right, too, but my hands are tied" companion. (I would say love interest, but that avenue went completely unexplored.) Most of the rest of the characters are boors who think Hutton is a nut or are neutral and don't really give a fig what happens to Charlie the Neanderthal. The film is hampered by the realization that if a real, living, Neanderthal man was found, most of the people around him would be ethical professionals who'd practically sacrifice their lives for his welfare. "Iceman" would make an interesting double bill with "Encino Man".
Review of Iceman
