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Show :zz zesl-z:- :: rri rT 11 eSulipQ b - - ?w- Vito miscast in Renaissance Mm1 i i i i i i i i l 1 I I I I I I i I Excellent Superb By FAWNA JONES Contributing Writer Summer is the synthetic season, a time for manufactured emotion in movies that seems to have been developed with nothing but other movies in mind and then, probably only the grosses. i i i i i i I 1 1 i I I Good i i i i i i I I I Fair like a crowd pleaser, and the byplay among DeVitos soldiers sometimes amuses, but director Penny (A League of Their Own) Marshall doesnt move with suffi cient snap. The movie, which has about worth of substance seems to go on for more movies hitting the theaters, Id wait until video with this one. (Touchstone Pictures, Parental than two hours. Bottom Line: Guidance (12) With the 13 suggested for mild profanity.) TXT Poor the consciousness of a squad of academic underachievers at an Army training post. The military setting provides the novelty. At first, DeVitos Bill Rago simply marks time; eventually, passion kicks in and he starts teaching his charges to read Shakespeare, simultaneously conveying the meaning of words such as simile, metaphor and oxymoron. The students get pumped up over Hamlet, and no surprise, as a result, achieve their measure of Nothing grates more than dy with conscience, come- mostly because it usually seems phony and contrived. Renaissance Man wants to display real feeling for its characters; each of DeVitos students has a touching tale. But to be genuinely moving, the movie would have had to tell their stories, not just use them as the basis for another sitcom with inspirational overtones. Gregory Hines fails to get the best out of this outing. He plays a drill instructor, the pragmatist who opposes DeVito, but eventually comes to see the value of intellectual attainment. Opposing forces literature and discipline meet at the Victory Tower, part of an big-scree- n, FAWNA JONES Maybe thats why Renaissance plays like a cross between Welcome Back Kotter and Dead Poets Society. The movies creators probably hope the comparisons will be monetary virtues. Danny DeVito, best in roles requiring a hard comic edge, seems advertismiscast as an ing exec who lands a job elevating Man obstacle course that provides DeVito with the opportunity for physical comedy. A rap version of Hamlet seems 'RENAISSANCE MAN: When Bill Rango (Danny DeVito, center) fails to make the grade in his career writing insipid ad copy, he is reduced to teaching a comprehension class to a group of floundering Army recruits who are close to flunking basic training. Although the Army is hardly prepared for Rago's radical teaching style, his methods inspire his class of underdogs to be all they can be, in Touchtone Pictures' new comedy-drama Fathers learn skills at Young Parents School By TINA BROUGH Contributing Writer KAYSVILLE The Young Mothers School was to help young mothers get a high originally organized school diploma, self esteem and a new start on life. A few years ago, the name of The Young Mothers School was changed to The Young Parents School and this years graduating class is an example of why it was changed. Out of 75 graduating this year from The Young Parents School, four of them are fathers. The fathers want to be a part of the childs life, explained SuzAnn Whitesides, an aide at The Young parents School. It gives them a chance to get to know their child better and to finish high school. Before this alternative high school was available for teenagers that got pregnant, the majority of them dropped out of high school and never graduated. Now The Young Parents School is not only giving the young mothers an opportunity to graduate, but is also giving the young fathers the same opportunity. Its a big responsibility having a child, explained Phillip Renie, a 1994 graduate. Normal kids worry about different things like what their hair looks like or what theyre going to wear to school that day. I worry about doctor bills, changing diapers and how I am going to support my family. Its a lot more responsibility. Everyone here has a child or is pregnant and we all have the same responsibilities and it brings us closer. FATHERHOOD: David Millet and Phillip Reme were two of the four fathers who graduated from the Young Parents School last week. Phillip said the school has helped him gain skills he needs to raise his son Michael. Reme has a 21 month old son, Michael, and is married to the mother, Holli. He explained that its not easy having a child, but its worth it. Not getting enough sleep is the hardest part and I dont mind changing diapers but when Michael runs to me and calls me daddy, its all worth it. Renie is receiving a Utah Power and Light Scholarship and plans to go to college to become a mechanical engineer. Another 1994 graduate, David Millet, explained that The Young Parents School is more personal. We are all a big family, we all have something in common and we support each other. Millet had dropped out of school and was in a gang. He was in and out of courts and detention and when he realized that he was going to become a father, reality set in and he decided to change. Having a child helps you to face reality, grow up and realize whats important. Millet has a five month old son, Alexander and decided to attend The Young Parents School so that he could have the opportunity to be near his son. I want to get to know my son and support him and help as much as I can. The Young Parents School has given me that opportunity and it has also given me the chance to get back into school and graduate. Going from being a high school drop out gang member to a high school graduate with a PTA Scholarship is a big step in the right direction. Millet plans to attend the Salt Lake City DATC and become a computer specialist. The Young Parents School operates like a regular high school. The school starts at 7:45 a.m. and ends at schedule that Davis 2:30 p.m. and has the same A-it Even has. School though operates like a reguHigh lar high school there are a few differences. The school has a smaller student body and because of that the students can receive more personalized attention. The electives that are offered are geared more to a student with a child. Some of the electives that are offered are parenting classes, career, food preparation, psychology classes, life management and the nursery classes, which is a required course to help the students learn more about parenting skills and how to adapt to the different moods of a child. We try to make the student more independent," explained W'hitesides. The school gives them an environment that is more personalized and helps them learn and practice some of the skills that they need to have. We want them to have as many opportunities as B everyone else. People used to treat me like I was evil," explained Millet. Its hard when you want to change. I feel accepted here. Its like one big family and we help each other. The school gave me the opportunity to graduate and get to know my son better. |