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Show Standard-Examiner Friday, July 31, 1992 SD ‘Buffy’ doesn’t live up to its intriguing title By DONALD PORTER Standard-Examuiner stat Despite its one-joke, non-plot ap- proach to the vampire myth, I declare “Buffy the Vampire Killer” the best movie title of the year for a major theatrical release. You gotta give credit where credit is due. That the movie doesn’t live up to its title’s high-camp aspirations is a severe disappointment. As any con- noisseur of vampire films will tell you, the characters with fangs should inspire some honest-to- goodness shivers, the females should be ... well, voluptuous, and the story should proceed aslogically as the genre permits from the discoveryof the neck-biters to their near-eradication. (We don’t want them all dead, of course, because we want more vampire movies.) With “Buffy the Vampire Killer” we get females with vacuum chambers for heads — Southern California Valley-girl cheerleaders — but no scary bloodsuckers and precious little story. In an attempt to shade over these Univeral City Studios Bruce Willis stars as Dr. Ernest Menville, a gifted but hapless plastic surgeon caughtin the rivalry between two women he loves. Here he is with Helen (Goldie Hawn). The other woman, Madeline, is played by Meryl Streep. ‘Death’ pokes fun at old age By BRYON SAXTON REVIEW Standard-Examinerstaff “Death Becomes Her”is a lively dark comedy about the Beverly Hills dead. So, what else is new in Southern California? Director Robert Zemeckis of “Back to the Future” fame pokes fun at an age-old problem — old age — in this odd brand of comedy starring Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn as rival friends who want the same milquetoast plastic surgeon for a lover. @ THE FILM: ‘Death Becomes Her’ @ OUR RATING: xx*'/2 @ STARRING:Bruce Willis, Goldie Hawn, and Meryl Streep. @ BEHIND THE SCENES:Directed by Robert Zemeckis. Screenplay by Martin Donovan and Davis Koepp. @ PLAYING: Cinedome, Motor-Vu Drive-In, Movies 10, Walker Cinemas 4. & MPAA RATING: PG-13 Streep, as tired actress Madeline Ashton, is frightened by the idea that age is overtaking her. To prevent the aging process from getting uglier, she steals the fiance of her writer friend Helen Sharp, played by Hawn (“Housesitter”). But while Ashton yearns for the surgeon’s skilled scalpel, Sharp yearns for the man’s heart, which lands both frantic females in the clutches of a witch who packs a potion that promises youth for 10 years,life forever. Isabella Rossellini is Lisle von Rhumans, the seductive witch and potion promoter. However, the role by the famed cosmetic covergirl is a small one, making way for Academy Award winners Hawn andStreepto strut their stuff. But it is Bruce Willis as plastic man Dr. Ernest Menville who puts a real face to this comedy. Never has Willis been more alive as he makes a departure from his “Die Hard” roles, playing a broken-down drinking doctor who must pit himself against the potion and the obsessed pair of females who have obtained it. Joining Willis in earning high praise is the special effects work of Ken Ralston and the Industrial Light and Magic crew. Their work quickly dispels the myth that Beverly Hills witches don’t fly — but more like zombies, never die. Scene after scene, the work of Ralston, who supervised the special effects for “Return of the Jedi” and “Who Framed Roger Rabbit,” takes center stage — providing imagery so real, so grotesque and yet so funny, you worry that you’re disturbed when you laugh. The off-camera work of “Back to the Future” photography director Dean Cundey,is also a highlight, as his wide-angle shots of the dark castle sets and the haughty Hill homes tells us we’re not in Kansas anymore. But it is Zemeckis who takes Seattle Times Christmas in July? It’s become a video tradition as more and more suring “Death Becomes Her” will not meet with an untimely death at the box office. mother (an Oscar-nominated supnew releases will be priced for rent- _ porting turn by Kate Nelligan). (Oct. 1); and Disney’s enchanting St. Bernard comedy, “Beethoven” companies announce their sell- through specials aimed at year-end gift-buyers instead of renters. Steven Spielberg’s “Hook” has just been released for $25, and the popular “Saturday Night Live” spin-off, “Wayne's World,” will be hurled at the cassette market for going even lower (some as low as 1991 Academy Award winner, $9.95) as they release packages of their older films in August and “Beauty and the Beast” (Oct. 30), all priced at $25. However, most of next month’s er @ OUR RATING: **': @ STARRING: Kristy Swanson, Don aid Sutherland, Pauli Reubens, Rut- ger Hauer, Luke Perry @ BEHIND THE SCENES: Directed by Fran Rubel Kuzui. Screenplay by Joss Whedon @ PLAYING: Davis Drive-in, Movies 6, North Star Drive-in, Walker Cinemas 4, Wilshire @ MPAA RATING: PG-13 dark ages, she becomes somewhat more serious whe isting Stakes into the hearts of the creatures but still finds it within herself to utter “Does the word ‘Duh’ mean anything to you?” Faring worseis Hauer, who 1s virtually catatonic as Lothos, lord of the fanged crowd. His performance is dull and the character is silly and superfluous. The best vampire award goes to Paul Reubens (Peewee Herman), whose Amilyn — Buffy observes he’s having a “badhair day” — is funny in virtually every scene he’s in; after a charac- ter tears off the arm of Amilyn’s leather jacket, and his arm along with it, he says, “You ruined my new jacket,” then orders his minions to “Kill hima lot.” While not exactly witty, these lines and manylike them are funny enough. But “Buffy,” in the end, is tired and lifeless, predictable and stale. A few laughs and a great title do not constitute good comedy, and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” is proof. Lack of good script sinks ‘Mo’ Money’ By DONALD PORTER REVIEW Standard-Examiner staff Damon Wayans would write a dark, yet still full of comedy, en- rental items, “Terminator 2,” will turn up Aug. 5 for $20. Several major companies will be Aug. 19. trained countless slayers since the waters it seems he has never sailed. This time, these waters are September. One of last year’s top Also designed to be year-end gifts are Disney's 1977 feature-length cartoon, “The Rescuers” (mid-September); the stupefyingly successful TV star Luke Perry to spruce things up. It doesn’t work. The movie’s shining spot is its real star, Kristy Swanson. This is an actress with verve, taking Buffy, airhead extraordinaire, from vapid cheerleader snob to the reluctant vampire slayer who, nonetheless, was born to dispatch the undead. Under the tutelage of Merrick (Sutherland), a millenarian who’s the biggest risk, venturing into al, starting Aug. 5 with “The Prince of Tides,” Barbra Streisand’s adaptation of the Pat Conroy novel about a close-knit, but troubled South Carolina family. Nick Nolte won last year’s Los Angeles Film Cnitics’ award for best actor for his work in it as an unemployed highschool coach with a straying wife (Blythe Danner) and a domineering the same price Aug. 12. Even Don Bluth’s animated flop, “Rock-aDoodle,” will become a $25 tape studmaster/James Dean-in-training Coming off a stint in his brother’s TV sketch comedy, “In Living Video releases priced for early Christmas gifts By JOHN HARTL rather large deficits, popular character actors Donald Sutherland and Rutger Hauer have been cast, along with hunka-hunka-burnin’ teen THE FILM: ‘Buffythe Vampire Kill- Color,” it somehow figures that movie, “Mo’ Money,” which is @ THE FILM: ‘Mo’ Money’ @ OUR RATING: *'2 @ STARRING: Damon Wayans, Marlon Wayans, Stacey Dash, Joe Santos, John Diehl. fashioned out of numerous comic vignettes. What all these bits and pieces don’t do, though, is add up to a funny or coherent whole. Wayans, who also stars in the @ BEHIND THE SCENES: Directed by Peter Macdonald(cq). Screenplay by Damon Wayans. BMPLAYING: Cinedome, Davis film, trades on broad stereotypes @ MPAA RATING: R and cliches to score with his humor: Gays, cops, homeboys, women and business executives invariably take their shots, and when he’s done trashing everyone in sight, “Mo’ Money” turns from its dull comedic intentions into a wheezing action drama. Wayans plays Johnny Stewart, the ne’er-do-well son of a dead cop whose former partner (Joe Santos) now serves-as Johnny’s father figure. Johnny, though, is more interested in running a myriad of scams with his younger brother, Drive-In, Movies 6. Seymour (Marlon Wayans), which keeps him in danger of landing back in jail. It’s all nauseatingly predictable, and the attempts at humor tend to make you cringe more than laugh. Wayans might have considered writing a storyfirst, then extracting some comedyfromthe situations in which his characters find themseives. And while he gives Johnny plenty to do, the rest of the characters in the film are caricatures. MOVIES AT A GLANCE nudity, language. Michael Douglas and Sharon Stone star in a film with a (deservedly) notonous reputation. Douglas plays a boozing cop on the trail of a killer, and Stone plays a bisexual RATINGS GUIDE Reviews are by Donald Porter. author who is the chief suspect. Directed by kkk Excellent. xxx Good. **x* Mediocre. ** Poor. * Worthless. New releases pias BEBE’S KIDS (PG-13) Language. This animated film is based on characters created by the late comic Robin Harris, who co-starred in such films as “House Party” and “Do the Right Thing.” No previews were made available for local media, so watch for a review next week. Mann Riverdale, Movies 6. BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER (PG-!3) *x'» Language, violence. Relative newcomer Kristy Swansonstars in the title role as a cheerleader born to kill vampires. Donald Sutherland, Rutger Hauer, Paul Reubens and hunka-hunkaburnin’teen sex idol Luke Perry co-star. See the review on this page. Davis Drive-In (with “Universal Soldier”), Movies 6, North Star Drive-In (with “Prelude to a Kiss”), Walker Cinemas 4, Wilshire. DEATH BECOMES HER (PG-13) «**'2 Language, violence. This special effects dark comedy was directed by Robert Zemeckis (“Who Framed Roger Rabbit”) and stars Bruce Willis, Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn. It con- cerns a plastic surgeon and two women In his life, both of whom desperately want to look younger. When theyget their hands on a youth potion, things go awry. See the review on this page. Cinedome, Motor-Vu Drive-In (with “Housesitter”), Movies 10, Walker Cinemas 4. — Reviewed by Bryon Saxton. Sneak previews DIGGSTOWN (R) Language, violence. James Woods, Louis Gossett, Jr., and Bruce Dern headline this film about con men, boxing and gambling. Watch for a review Aug. 14, when the film opens its regular engagement at local theaters. Sneak preview Saturday only at the Wilshire 3 NINJAS (PG) Violence. As the title suggests, some high-kicking kids take on bad guys in this preteen actioner. Watch for a review whe the film opensits regular run at local theaters. Sneak preview Saturday only at the Movies 10, WHISPERS IN THE DARK (R) Language, sex, violence. Good cast: Annabella Sciorra, Jamey Sheridan, Anthony LaPaglia, Jill Clayburgh and Alan Alda. A psychological thriller. Watch for a review when the film opens in local theaters, Sneak preview Saturday only at the Mann Riverdale and Movies 10. Paul Verhoeven (“Robocop,” “Total Recall”), the film would rather push buttons and provoke response than weave a spellbinding tale. The violence is excessive, as are the sexual aspects, and the mystery isn’t really all that mysterious. Sul, Stone’s performance is an amazing one. There’s at least as muchto loathe in this one as to admire. Kaysville. BATMAN RETURNS(PG-13) x&xx'4 Language, violence. The Dark Knight is back on the streets of Gotham, this time battling the Penguin (Danny DeVito) and Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer). Tim Burton, the man who made the magic the first time around, is back as director, and Michael Keaton is back as Batman. Glorious set design, and Danny Elfman’s score is. haunting. We get a deeper look into Batman’s personality this time around — he’s not as wooden. And while the villains don’t stack up to Jack Nicholson's fire-breathing Joker; Michelle Pfeiffer adds a splendid and layered perfo1mance as Catwoman. The rare sequel that comesvery close to being as much fun as the original. Mann Riverdale, Movies 10, North Star Drive-In (with “A League of Their Own”). BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (G) xxx%x*'2 Nothing offensive. This animated adaptation of the fairy tale features voice talent by Angela Lansbury, Jerry Orbach and Robby Benson. Classic Disney animation is combined with whiz-bang computer generated imagery to create dazzling effects. The heroine is a self-assured woman, and the beast finds redemption through her — a real change for Disney. This one could become a classic. For the moment,it’s a mustsee film. Kaysville, Newgate 4. BEETHOVEN (PG) *** Language. The shotgun approach to a parodyof pet ownership succeeds, in large part, here. Beethoven, an incredibly smart Saint Bernard, sneaks his way through the front door of a suburban home, making the family’s problems his own in this tale that falls somewhere between a purebred and a mutt. Kaysville, Newgate 4. — Reviewed by Bryon Saxton. BOOMERANG(R) *'4 Language, sex, nudity. The latest Eddie Murphy vehicle casts the actor as a womanizer whois used by a female for a change. Murphy's trying to move beyond his wisecracking persona with into romantic, leading man territory. Romance, at least the type the filmmakers seem to be aiming for here, requires some subticty and wit. Murphy's performance is subtle, alright, so much so that he nearly fades into the background. But the film lacks anything resembling wit, substituting vulgarities for comedy. Robin Givens and Halle Berry co-star, Davis Drive-In (with “Mo’ Money”), Mann City Plaza CLASS ACT (PG-13) Language, violence. Rap duo Kid ‘N Play (“House Party”) headline the cast of this comedy about two high schoolers — one a model student, the other a malcontent — whose records are switched at the beginning BASIC INSTINCT (2) *** Violence, sex, of the school year. The tough guy forces the other one to continue the masquerade. Reviews of this one have been onthe positive side, generally, calling attention to the two rappers-turnedactors’ fine abilities as comic entertainers. Newgate 4. COOL WORLD (PG-13) *% Language, sex, violence. Gabriel Byrne plays a cartoonist who’s sucked into a cartoon netherworld. This attempt to be somesort of dark, brooding take on “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” is an unsuccessful — though visually dazzling — mess with a pointless story, precious few characters to care about. The performancesstink, and the blend ofanimation andlive action is anything but seamless. Kim Basinger co-stars. Mann City Plaza, Motor-Vu Drive-In (with “Universal Soldier”). ENCINO MAN (PG-13) ** Language, violence. Pauly Shore and Sean Astin star in the comedy as two high schoolers who dig up a caveman in their back yard and hope he’s their ticket to coolness. The filmmakers behind this one are trying to mine the same audience that catapulted “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure” into sleeper hit territory. But this one isn’t funny, and little of Pauly Shore goes a long, long way. Kaysville, Lakeside, Newgate 4. FAR AND AWAY (PG-13) x*': Language, violence, brief nudity. Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman star in Ron Howard's new epic romance. The film’s lush cinematography gives way to a tedious onslaught of romantic and old-fashioned cliches. Cruise and Kidman, who are married in real life, do fine jobs, but this one’s too long and uninteresting. Movies 6. HONEY, | BLEW UP THE KID (PG) **x Violence. The sequel to “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” sees the bumbling inventor transform his 2-year-old into a towering giant. It’s everything you expect from a sequel, and nothing more. But, given diminished expectations of Saturday-morning cartoon watching kiddies, they should get a kick out if it. Adults will notice that the special effects don’t match thefirst film’s, and the quality of the humoris running behind, too. Mann Riverdale, Motor-Vu Drive-In (with “Sister Act”), Movies 10, Walker Cinemas 4. HOUSESITTER (PG) ***'4 Language. Steve Martin, Goldie Hawn and Dana Delany star in this comedy about a woman who insinuates her way into a stranger’s life, passing herself off as his wife. Funny, lightweight comedy — the sort Martin does so well. Motor-Vu Drive-In (with “Death Becomes Her”), Movies 10. A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN (PG) ee! Language. This is director Penny Marshall's film about the all-female professional baseball league created during World War II when the males were off at war. Like all of Marshall's films to date, this one’s steeped in sentimentality, and isn’t much of a baseball movie, really — dealing so heavily in sports cliches. Still, the movie is funny, and the performances are winning. Stars include Geena Davis, Tom Hanks and Madonna. Mann City Plaza, Movies 10, North Star Drive-In (with “Batman Returns”), Walker Cin- time out, a former copis selling guns to thugs on the L.A. streets. Lots of action, less graphic violence and a high dosage of comedy makethis one more entertaining than “Lethal Weapon 2.” Mann Riverdale, Movies 10. MOM AND DAD SAVE THE WORLD (PG) * Violence. This comedy about parents whorescue the earth from alien domination stars Teri Garr, Jeffrey Jones and Jon Lovitz. See the review on page 6D. Mann Riverdale, Movies 10. MO’ MONEY(R) *% Violence, language, sex. Damon Wayans (“The Last Boy Scout”) stars in this comedy with his younger brother, Marlon. They play brothers on the screen, as well as con-men who will do practically anything to earn a few bucks. See the review onthis page. Cinedome, Davis Drive-In (with “Boomerang”), Movies 6 NEWSIES (PG) x*x*x* Language, violence. This musical tells the story of a famous 19th century strike by New York City news hawkers — the rag-tag band of boys who sold papers on the streets. Robert Duvall and Ann-Margret are among the stars. Enjoyable asit is, the music — from “Beauty and the Beast” composer Alan Menken — and dancing are uninspired. There's no danger of this one becoming a classic. Still, the performances by Christian Bale (“Empire of the Sun”) and Duvall, as the money-grubbing Joseph Pulitzer, are quite arresting. Kaysville. PINOCCHIO (G) x**#* Nothing offensive. Walt Disney's classic 1940 animated film about a puppet who wants to be a real boy. One of the studio’s crowning achievements in the blend of animation, music and storytelling. The emotional depth ofthis film is significant, and the Oscar-winning music is terrific. The film has been restored, too — the original negative has been cleaned, enhancing the brilliance of the color image, and the sound has been remastered to be compatible with Dolby Stereo used in theaters nowadays. Movies 6. PRELUDE TO A KISS (PG-13) **** Language. Meg Ryan and Alec Baldwin co-star in this literate romance about a bride whose soul is switched with that of an old man. Funny, porgnant and heartfelt, this film uses the bodyswitch gimmick to comment sensitively on the nature of love, loss and longing. This one's a keeper. Capitol, Movies 10, North Star Drive-In (with “Buffy the Vampire Killer”), Wilshire SISTER ACT (PG) *** Language, violence. Whoopi Goldberg's newest vehicle has her playing a lounge singer who hides out by masquerading as a nun after she witnesses a killing. While Whoopi does a respectable job, the plot and jokes are hackneyed. Mediocre entertainment, at best. Capitol, Mann City Plaza, Motor-Vu Drive-In (with “Honey, | Blew Up the Kid”), Movies 10. — Reviewed by Bryon Sax ton wood odd couples go, it’s hard to imagine a more mismatched set. Stull, Woods and Parton give it a go, and the results aren’t terrible. Too bad we can’t say the samefor the overall movie, which is reduced to nothing more than a Parton vehicle. The only things worth praising are her Southern witticisms. Kaysville, Lakeside, Newgate 4. A STRANGER AMONG US (PG-13) x** Language, violence. Melanie Griffith is cast as a tough NewYork cop investigating the murder of a Hasidic Jew. To catch the killer, she goes undercover in the orthodox Jewish community Directed by Sidney Lumet, a reliable maker of cop dramas (“Prince ofthe City,” “Q&A”), the film is well written, but awfully reminiscent of “Witness.” And Griffith, an otherwise talented actress, doesn’t have the stuff to play a gritty cop or a Hasid. Mann Riverdale, Movies 10. UNIVERSAL SOLDIER (R) xxx* Violence, language. Two meatheads for the price of one: Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren team up as state-of-the-art, back from the dead soldiers in this well-made actioner. Davis Drive-In (with “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”), Mann City Plaza, Motor-Vu Drive-In (with “Cool World”), Movies 6. — Reviewed by Bryon Saxton. UNLAWFUL ENTRY (R) ***'> Language, violence, nudity, sex. An obsessive, intrusive, deranged cop takes a liking to another man’s wife in this manipulative thniller. Standard stuff, really, except that director Jonathan Kaplan knows which butions to push and when to push them. The whole nouionof an erotic quotient in a dangerous relationship adds spice to the mix, too. Good performances by Ray Liotta (“Good- Fellas”) as the bad cop, Madeleine Stowe as the object of his desire, and Kurt Russell as her frustrated husband. Capitol, Movies 6, Wilshire Sometheater information was not received before copy deadline For information on movies playing at the theater box Midnight movies BRAZIL (R) *** Language, violence, Terry Gilliam’s visually stunning look into a chaotic future stars Jonathan Pryce as a cog in the giant bureaucracy that runs civilization. He dreams of better things, encountering an anarchis t (Robert De Niro) and others along the way. Look for Bob Hoskins, Michael Palin and lan Holm in supporting roles The film is more of an exercise in style than anything else, and as such exists as something of a peculiarity, A glonous mess, really, Playing tonight only at the Wilshire, There will be midnight screenings, tonight and Saturday only, manic Leo Getz (Joe Pesci) — to further litter the neighborhood with bodies of baddies, This reporter out to uncover the sham, As Holly- Us WEAPON 3 (R) *#*') Language, violence. Riggs (Mel Gibson) and Murtaugh (Danny Glover) are back — along with the The brilliant imagery, alas, is not supporting by an equally engrossing plot. STRAIG\'T TALK (PG) **'> Language mild violence. Dolly Parton plays a former dance instructor masquerading as a psychologist on a Chicago talk radio station in this romantic comedy, James Woods plays the investigative emas 4, Country Club Theater, call the office at the Movies 10 of “Batman Re- turns,” “Death Becomes Her,” “Honey, 1 Blew Up the Kid,” “Housesitter,” "A League of Their Own,” “Mom and Dad Save the World,” "Prelude to a Kiss,” “Sister Act” and “A Stranger Among " |
