Films review February
ALARMIST, THE (R)
Quirky comedy turns serious before the fun is done in this tale of the owner of a home security company and the lengths he’s willing to go to in order to insure business. Stanley Tucci is excellent as Heinrich Grigoris, a sleazy businessman who guarantees customers by robbing their homes. He also purposely sets off the alarms of customers so they will brag about how effective the system is. For Heinrich, it’s business as usual when he hires young apprentice Tommy Hudler (David Arquette, almost under control). Tommy is thrilled when he sells his first system to a single mom (Kate Capshaw) and her son, but is elated when he falls in love with the woman. That pits Tommy against his mentor when Heinrich decides to hit the woman’s house. What begins as an offbeat character study and comedy turns serious when the two men engage in a war of their own. Not bad, but it does fall apart towards the end. (Columbia-TriStar Home Video)
HEAVEN OR VEGAS (R)
While it’s not as bad as sucking up battery acid through a straw, this tale of misguided love fails to ignite any fires. Television and direct-to-video heartthrobs Richard Grieco and Yasmine Bleeth co-star as Las Vegas hookers looking for a better life in Montana. She’s the low-rent call girl, he’s the high priced gigolo, but they have the same dream of a better life. Their trip to Montana to fulfill their dreams is sidelined when they stop by her parents house, causing a romantic rift in their relationship when Grieco falls for her half-sister. When Rachel (Bleeth) runs off with a suspicious group of drifters, Navy (Grieco) realizes that he actually loves her and runs to her rescue. Petty and predictable, the film never creates any chemistry between the players. (Columbia-TriStar Home Video)
MULAN (G)
Thoroughly entertaining animated effort from Walt Disney Pictures, a handsome blend of traditional animation and outstanding songs. Like the best of Disney animation (“Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin”) “Mulan” is rich in colorful characters, striking animation, engaging songs and a sense of adventure missing from “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” and “Hercules.” Ming-Na Wen provides the voice of Mulan, the spunky heroine who dresses like a man to take her ailing father’s place in the fight against the Huns. Steeped in Chinese tradition, the tale of “Mulan” is filled elements adults can enjoy while catering to the kids with it’s amusing creatures, including a small dragon with attitude named Mushu (the voice of Eddie Murphy). I was reluctant to sit down and watch “Mulan,” but after I did I couldn’t wait to watch it again. The songs are terrific, and the vocal talent is exemplary, including Lea Salonga, B.D. Wong and Donny Osmond (yes, Donny Osmond). Parents will appreciate the spectacle and love story, while kids will have a blast and learn some valuable lessons about respecting the elderly. What more could you want? Available for sell-through at $26.99. (Walt Disney Home Video)
PRACTICAL MAGIC (PG-13)
Misguided romantic comedy about a family of witches who have been cursed. Whenever they fall in love, the guy dies. Still, that doesn’t stop grown sisters Sally (Sandra Bullock) and Gillian (Nicole Kidman) from testing fate. While Sally marries and has children, Gillian runs off to have a good time, damn the curse. It doesn’t take long before both sister’s lives are brought together again. Things get complicated when the girls accidentally kill Gillian’s abusive lover, and then use a spell to bring him back to life. Dianne Wiest and Stockard Channing have some nice moments (but are truly underused) as the girl’s aunts, while Aidan Quinn plays a police detective investigating the disappearance of Gillian’s boyfriend. The screenplay could use a little magic. (Warner Home Video)
THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY (R)
1998’s hit comedy comes to video, and the laughter continues. If you haven’t seen or heard of this movie by now, you: (a) Have been living at Jerry Falwell’s house for the past year; (b) been hanging out with Val Kilmer in a cave in Africa since summer; or (c) just awoke from a coma. After scoring with the hit “Dumb and Dumber” and the equally funny “Kingpins,” the Farrelly brothers, Peter and Bobby, hit one out of the park with a sweet, gross-out comedy about love ever after. Ben Stiller is hilarious as the nebbish Ted, who still pines for sweet, young Mary (Cameron Diaz) ten years after their fateful high school reunion fiasco. When he hires sleazy private detective Pat Healy (Matt Dillon) to track her down, Ted expects to pick up where they left off a decade earlier. Unfortunately, Pat is attracted to Mary, and after finding her, creates a plan to keep her for himself. How Ted and his best friend Dom (Chris Elliott) attempt to rectify the situation makes for grand comedy. Too many laughs to get specific, but there’s enough gut busters for several films. Highly recommended. (20th Century Fox Home Entertainment)
TREASURE OF PIRATE’S POINT (PG)
Kids will most appreciate this low-budget adventure about a group of kids in a small seaside town who learn that there might be buried treasure in town. When Ray (Asher Metchik) and his friends learn from a direct descendant of legendary pirate Captain Vane that some of the captain’s treasure might still be buried in town, they set out to find it. What they don’t know is that someone else wants the treasure, and is willing to do what ever it takes to recover it. How the kids locate the treasure and save their town makes for rousing entertainment for the non- demanding. (A-PIX)
WITHOUT LIMITS (PG)
Director Robert Towne’s compelling biography of long distance runner Steve Prefontaine may have been the second film biography of the runner to reach the screen, but by far it’s definitely the best. Towne’s examination of the young runner is filled with honest observations about life, love, and the pure joy of competing and winning. Billy Crudup is excellent as Prefontaine, who packed a lot of living into his short life, while Donald Sutherland excels as his determined coach Bill Bowerman. While some may not consider a film about a long distance runner entertainment, be assured that “Without Limits” has a lot more on its mind than wind sprints. (Warner Home Video)
