Worthwhile tale of adolescence and difference.

Typical disease-of-the-week TV fare, made memorable by a young John Travolta on the cusp of superstardom.

Travolta coming of age… in a germ-free zone; plus charming Glynnis O’Connor RELEASED TO TV IN 1976 and directed by Randal Kleiser, "The Boy in the Plastic Bubble" is a youth drama inspired by the true-life stories of David Vetter and Ted DeVita, both of whom lacked effective immune systems. John Travolta plays Tod Lubitch, a teen born with immune deficiencies in Southern Cal while Glynnis O'Connor is the girl next door with whom he slowly develops a relationship and inspires him to crave freedom from his germ-free ‘prison.’ Robert Reed & Diana Hyland are on hand as his parents. The opening act is relatively dull, but it’s necessary because it establishes Tod’s situation. Thankfully, the story perks up with the star power of Travolta and O’Connor. The former was 21 during shooting and is quite good as the protagonist while O’Connor is winsome as ever. She was almost 20 during filming and has a bikini sequence for those interested. At its heart, this is a coming-of-age movie but with a unique twist (the bubble boy). There are several well-done high school sequences, like the football field scene where the kids sneak away to smoke pot. Unrealistic? Not at all. The best part is the ending where we share in Tod’s joy and sense of wonder at the most simplest things that normal people take for granted. I can relate because when I was his age I fell off a cliff and ended up in trac…

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