STN Entertainment

'That Thing You Do!'

'2 days in the Valley'

Mazursky), a pair of inept cops
(Jeff Daniels and Eric Stolz) and,
for good measure, a couple of
ontrary to the television ad- femme fatales (Teri Hatcher and
vertisements, 2 Days in the stunning newcomer Charlize
Valley does not "out-pulp Theron).
Pulp Fiction." That disap-
Like a bunch of mechanical
pointment notwithstanding, 2 dolls, Herzfeld winds up his char-
days does make for some pretty acters, points them toward each
good entertainment, another en- other, and allows us to enjoy ob-
try in the "crime + comedy =
serving their steady march
crimedy" genre.
toward an inevitable col-
As with Pulp Fiction, 2
MOVIES
lision.
days begins by setting in
Early in the film, the
motion several different sto-
fun comes from enjoying the in-
ries that are seemingly unrelat- dividual vignettes, without con-
ed. Cutting back and forth sidering how they might fit
between the various seedy se- together. As the stories develop,
quences, each taking place in Cal- the challenge is to figure out how
ifornia's San Fernando Valley, one segment will intersect with
Writer/Director John Herzfeld in- another. By the end of the film,
troduces a colorful variety of char- the pleasure is derived from an-
acters, including an icy assassin ticipating just who are going to
(James Spader), a washed-up get what they deserve, and then
hoodlum (Danny Aiello), a sui- actually seeing them get it.
cidal Hollywood director (Paul

Rated R

Although the genre seems to
be glutted, 2 days in the Valley
distinguishes itself with a win-
ning combination of cast and
script that accommodates even
the smallest attention span. More
mainstream than Pulp Fiction,
less convoluted than The Usual
Suspects and packed with hot ac-
tors, the film takes an original, if
not memorable, spin through the
amusing world of the bumbling
criminal underclass.

—

Richard Halprin

Left:
Lee Woods (James Spader)
is a ruthless professional
hitman who teams with the
seductive Helga Svelgen
(Charlize Theron) in a
murder-for-hire scheme in 2

days in the Valley.

Encouraged by the reaction of
the audience, the boys record the
up-tempo version of their song
ver the past 10 years or so, and even get it played on a local
Tom Hanks has achieved radio station, leading to a de-
mass acclaim portraying lightful scene of whimsy as the
characters that tend to be gang romps through the streets
warm, witty and thoughtful. of Erie, transistor radios in hand.
With the release of That Thing
After landing a few bar gigs,
You Do!, Hanks makes his first the band is "discovered" and em-
film wearing the crown of barks on a tour of state fair-
writer/director and, for the curi-
grounds. Along the way, we
ous, shows what type of
get to know the members
film he can make, given
of the band and en-
MOVIES
free rein. Not surpris-
tourage, including drum-
ingly, Hanks has crafted
mer Guy Patterson (Tom
a film that is warm, witty and Hanks look-alike Tom Everett
thoughtful.
Scott); Liv Tyler, the lead singer's
Set in Erie, Pa. c.during the girlfriend and the band's biggest
summer of 1964,,the film follows fan; and Mr. White (Tom Han-
the evolution of a fictitious rock ks), the pivotal role of the indus-
band, The Wonders, from local try insider who puts the boys on
singers to national sensations. the charts.
Unlike similar movies, this sto-
The story of the rise and fall of
ry is not about a group of dedi- a band is a familiar one, told
cated musicians committed to the satirically in Spinal Tap and self-
"cause" of rock and roll.
seriously in Grace of My Heart.
To the contrary, The Wonders That Thing You Do! finds a com-
are a garage band whose mem- fortable balance, like a radio-
bers enter a talent contest on a friendly pop song, lightweight
lark and win when their new and disposable, but fun while it
drummer plays the wrong beat, lasts.
turning the gentle ballad —
-Ot 1/2
"That Thing You Do!" — into a
bouncy Beatlesque pop rocker.
—Richard Halprin

Rated PG

0

Right:
Steve Zahn,
Johnathon
Schaech, Tom
Everett Scott,
Liv Tyler and
Ethan Embry
learn that
The Wonders'
signature song —
"That Thing You
Do!" — is rising
to the top
of the charts.

What We

Bagel Barometer

tO C1 Q*,
Q‘)

Outstanding
Very Good

Good
Fair

Beau Jest . .
The All-Night Strut
The First Wives Club
Extreme Measures
Last Man Standing
Grace Of My Heart
Basquiat
Feeling Minnesota
The Rich Man's Wife

•11111110•X11•111

. .3 bagels
..31/2 bagels
.2 bagels
• . .3 bagels
— —1/2 bagel
. . . .2 bagels
—3 bagels
1 bagel
11/2 bagels

•

Correction: Last week's review of First Wives Club incorrectly received three bagels.

CC
LLJ
CO

C-)

8

