BLESS THE CHILD (R)

Poor Kim Basinger. First she’s trapped in Africa, now she’s trapped in yet another derivative demonic thriller that brings to mind “The Omen” and “The Exorcist.” It’s all a case of been there, done that, all done up in a hokey package featuring silly special effects. Basinger plays New York nurse Maggie O’Connor, whose simple life is complicated when her reckless kid sister leaves her newborn daughter with her. At first flustered by the sudden change in her life, Maggie eventually grows to love the little girl and names her Cody. Six years later the kid sister shows up and wants her daughter back, claiming that she has cleaned up her act and wants to live a responsible life. Maggie is suspect, and only gives Cody after a courtroom battle. When Maggie learns that her sister is involved with Satanist who believe Cody is their savior, she teams up with an FBI agent (Jimmy Smits) to find her before it’s too late. It’s hard to believe any of this, while Basinger looks helpless in a role riddled with cliches. Rufus Sewell is larger than life as the villain of the piece, chewing scenery as fast as they can feed it to him. Could have and should have been better. (Paramount)

ADVENTURES OF ROCKY & BULLWINKLE (PG)

One of those projects that must have looked like gold on paper, but ends up resembling a leaden balloon. I loved the original “Rocky & Bullwinkle” series, so I approached this film with both trepidation and anticipation. Would this blend of live action and animation be another “Roger Rabbit” or another “Cool World.” Separately, the elements seem unbeatable. The script is smart and funny. The guy behind the camera is a respected theatrical director who got the gig because his sense of timing is remarkable. The cast includes Robert DeNiro spoofing himself as Fearless Leader, plus Jason Alexander and Renee Russo as his flunkies Boris and Natasha. So what went wrong? None of the elements seem to mesh. The film is fine when Rocky & Bullwinkle are on the screen, but it looses all control when the live action elements come into play. Even at a brief hour and a half the film tends to drag. There are some laughs, but not nearly enough to sustain the premise. (Universal)

BRING IT ON (PG-13)

Kirsten Dunst is outstanding in this smart and satirical comedy about high school and cheerleaders. Dunst stars as Torrance, the head of the San Diego-based high school cheerleading squad, whose routines have won them first place the last five years. All that is about to change when she learns that a rival high school has ripped off their hip hop routine. Or have they? In fact, Torrance learns that her squad is guilty of the crime, and are forced to come up with a new routine in time for the championships. I really liked the way writer Jessica Bendinger creates characters who are more complex than in the usual teen fare, and actually have something important to say. Director Peyton Reed turns all of this into wicked fun. The cast is sensational, especially Dunst and Gabrielle Union as the two team leaders. (Universal)

MAD ABOUT MAMBO (PG-13)

Spirited performances from Keri Russell and William Ash elevate this Irish “Romeo and Juliet” tale about a working class soccer player who joins a dance class to improve his rhythm and falls in love with his upper class dance partner. Set in Belfast, Ireland, “Mad About Mambo” presents a surprisingly fresh perspective on the various genres it borrows from, never allowing the film to become cute or cloying. Instead, it features adult performances from Russell and Ash, who are terrific both on and off the dance floor. There’s a fair amount of conflict, some of it obvious, but director John Forte never allows it to jeopardize the film’s heart and soul. Great scenery, a wonderful supporting cast and a sense of pride distinguish this import. (USA)

MATCH, THE (PG-13)

A century old feud comes to a head in this outrageous comedy set in Scotland. There, in the small village of Inverdoune, two competing pubs are about to play their annual game of soccer. Only this year there’s a catch. The loser has to honor the century old bet and shut down. So it’s all or nothing, a reality not lost on the participants. Filled with colorful characters and equally colorful situations, “The Match” is a real kick. Ian Holm is excellent as Big Tam, the owner of Benny’s Bar, an old hangout that has seen better times. Richard E. Grant plays his nemesis Gorgeous Gus, the owner of the more modern L’Bistro. Benny’s Bar has only one chance at winning the game, but it depends on the lovelorn milkman who is still in grief over the death of his brother. Even though the script treads into familiar territory, the cast never allow themselves to become cliches. They attack the material with conviction, delivering a grand time. Some of the dialects are a little thick, but that’s part of the film’s charm. It’s authentic. (USA)

RELATIVE VALUES (PG-13)

Noel Coward’s satire on class distinction gets a good workout from director Eric Styles and a terrific cast. Julie Andrews glows as an English Countess who is less than thrilled that her son, Prince Nigel (Edward Atterton), plans to marry a Hollywood starlet. The Countess will do anything to keep such riff raff out of her family, including making a deal with the starlet’s ex-boyfriend, a handsome actor (William Baldwin). Coward’s dialogue couldn’t be in better hands, including Sophie Thompson as the maid with ties to the starlet. Lush production design and a good looking, charming cast make this made-for-cable comedy worth a look. (First Look)

SEVEN GIRLFRIENDS (R)

Shades of “High Fidelity.” Tim Daly (“Wings”) stars as Jesse, a man in his mid-thirties who is having a pre-mid life crisis. After the unexpected death of one girlfriend and abandonment by another, he’s just come to the realization that he can’t hold on to a serious relationship. In order to better understand his dilemma, Jesse seeks out his former girlfriends for advice. If it weren’t for the engaging cast and snappy direction of Paul Lazarus, none of this would matter. Daly makes Jesse the sort of man we can get behind, and the women in his life are delightful, including Mimi Rogers, Laura Leighton, and Jamie Gertz. (Trimark)

SHARK ATTACK 2 (R)

Why do they make sequels to bad movies? Especially movies that didn’t bring that much to the plate in the first place? “Shark Attack II” features cookie-cutter characters doing the sort of mindless crap needed in order to advance the paper thin plot. This Australian import doesn’t have any bite. It’s another in a long line of adventure thrillers about a biological experiment gone awry. Don’t they ever learn? Now mutant killer white sharks are attacking wind surfers (and this is a bad thing?), and the only thing that stands between the sharks and lunch are a shark hunter, a shark expert and the survivor of an attack. When they’re not chumming, they’re chumps. Now please go away and never come back. (Trimark)

SUNSET STRIP (R)

Taking his cue from Robert Altman’s multi-character style, director Adam Collis delivers a surprisingly engaging tale of one day in the lives of several characters. Most of the action takes place on the Strip, where a myriad of characters look to fulfill their dreams. Some of the stories are familiar, but the film’s nostalgic look, niche soundtrack and decent acting keep it afloat. The action takes place in 1972, and even though the scope of the film is narrow, you still get a feeling for the period. Nick Stahl stands out as a musician whose band gets a break when they’re asked to open at the Whiskey A Go Go. Also roaming the Strip is an album cover photographer dealing with larger than life egos, including Jared Leto as a Glenn Frey-type musician, and Adam Goldberg as a sleazy producer looking for his next big break. Not a great film, but one filled with enough interesting characters and situations to give it a look. (Fox)

WOMAN ON TOP (PG-13)

Penelope Cruz is delicious in this winning romantic comedy about a woman who leaves her selfish, philandering husband behind in Brazil while she seeks out a new life in San Francisco. You can’t blame Isabella (Cruz) for leaving her husband. The owners of a popular restaurant, he always takes credit for her cooking. The last straw comes when Isabella finds him in bed with another woman. Now she’s in San Francisco, living with her transsexual friend Monica (Harold Perrineau Jr.) and looking for work as a chef. Instead, she catches the eye of television producer Cliff Lloyd (Mark Feuerstein), who is swept away by her looks and cooking. With a little wrangling, he gets Isabella her work cooking show, which her husband sees and heads to San Francisco to ride her wave of fame. Every time Cruz walks into a scene it sparkles. She’s a delight as a woman who knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to go after it. Feuerstein is a charming, sweet beau, who tries to keep business and pleasure separate. Although “Woman on Top” didn’t cook at the box office, it sure will sizzle on video. (Fox)

ALSO NEW THIS WEEK:

CHARMING BILLY NR/Winstar)

CITY, THE (NR/New Yorker)

GET CARTER (R/Warner)

HUMANITE (NR/Winstar)

WOMEN OF THE NIGHT (NR/Avalanche)

This entry was posted on Thursday, February 8th, 2001 at 4:32 am and is filed under Film Review. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.