STN Entertainment

'Vegas Vacation'

'Touch'

Rated PG-13

ouch, the latest of Elmore er/recreational
Leonard's books to make it vehicle salesman;
to the big screen, is a pass- aside from the
able attempt at entertain- use of a huge
ment: strong on the translation medallion pro-
claiming "Thank
but weak on the lead casting.
The movie tells the story of a You Jesus," his
stigmatic young man (Skeet Ul- portrayal lacks
rich) who possesses the gift to the effervescence
heal people with his touch. His needed to bring
ability is witnessed by a failed his character to
preacher (Christopher Walken) life.
Fonda is, at
who sends a friend (Bridget Fon-
da) to an alcohol rehab center to best, mediocre in
her performance
find the young man.
Once his miraculous ability is as the 'free-spirit-
exposed, the media and other op- ed Lynn Faulkn-
portunists do their best to cash er, annoying with
in on him, ultimately leading him her twitchy smile
in some scenes
to escape.
Written by director Paul and just plain flat
Schrader, the screenplay is well in others. The
done, adhering to the dialogue- supporting cast,
driven style of Elmore Leonard's featuring Gina
novels (Leonard also penned Get Gershon (Showgirls, Bound) and
Shorty.) Unlike other failed at- Lolita Davidovich (Blaze), was
tempts to bring books to life, this grating.
The film is carried, in
one succeeds, managing to
large part, by newcom-
translate words into tech=
MOVIES
er Skeet Ulrich as Juve-
nicolor as scenes practi-
nal and by Tom Arnold as
cally leap from the pages.
But the actors' performances August Murray. Ulrich is au-
— particularly those by Fonda thentic as the innocent, naive Ju-
and Walken — add a blandness venal, giving a portrayal with a
not usually seen in Leonard's magnificent finesse that most
works. Walken is corpse-like as young actors have yet to master.
a backroads evangelical preach- Stealing nearly every scene in
which he appears, Arnold is a
Jill Davidson Sklar has read most
true joy to watch as the self-right-
of Elmore Leonard's novels.
eous, judgmental, pompous

in

Newcomer Skeet Ulrich in Elmore
Leonard's Touch.

leader of a fringe group. In the
supporting cast, Janeane Garo-
falo (Cats and Dogs) turns in a
good performance as Kathy Wor-
thington, a cynical reporter.
As a whole, the movie was all
right, but just all right. If you are
looking for an OK time, see it; if
not, don't. You won't be missing
all that much.

— Jill Davidson Sklar

'That Darn Cat'

Rated G

eople usually think that a boring berg by following a clue
Disney film is bound to be in a kidnapping, provided by
really appealing for children none other than her tomcat, D.C.
yet only somewhat tolera- (yup, stands for Darn Cat).
Rich with attitude, Ricci's
ble for parents and adults. But the
remake of Disney's 1965 That script has viewers straining in
Darn Cat goes way beyond the anticipation of her next line.
(One favorite: Someone asks Ric-
usual family film expectations.
Unlike the first cat flick, this ci's "queen of detachment" why Christina Ricci stars in the remake of Disney's
That Dam Cat. PHOTO BY JOHN BRAMLEY
one takes on an appealing edgi- she always wears black. "It
ness and wit, creating an enter- matches my soul," she replies.)
as millionaire Mr. Flint; and a stel-
Novice FBI Agent Zeke Kelso, lar performance by Bess Arm-
taining way to spend a couple of
played by Doug E. Doug, helps strong as Patti's mother, who is
hours for several age groups.
We've watched Christina Ricci Patti track. D.C. to the kidnappers' the definition of prep, complete
grow up on screen in Mermaids, hangout. He's inept and confused with cutesy-patterned cardigans
most of the time, which, and turtlenecks.
Casper, The Addams Fam-
combined with Ricci's cyn-
ily and Addams Family
The few downers indude a too-
MOVIES
icism, creates a splendid long chase scene (aah, but the
Values. Now, adults and
duo, with each playing off children love it!) and an unnec-
children will enjoy her lead
role as the snarky 16-year-old Pat- the other's inadequacies.
essary gas station blow-up scene.
Other highlights include Zeke However, this new version of a
ti Randall. Patti, who thinks she
lives in Dull City, U.S.A., tries to being turned into a cat, slinking Disney classic makes it worth ac-
bring some excitement into her and skulking up and down the al- companying your child to the
leys; the appearance of Dean movies.
Jones, who starred in the first
Megan Swayer is editorial
That Darn Cat and now shows up
— Megan Swayer
consultant for Style magazine.

p

Randy Quaid and Chevy Chase in the latest Vacation installment,
Vegas Vacation.

f one were to graph the laughs portion to his losses at the table.
from the original National To make matters worse, a fun-lov-
Lampoon's Vacation through ing cousin-in-law, played by
the latest, Vegas Vacation, and Randy Quaid, has moved his fam-
then chart the results, the plung- ily to some abandoned federal
ing line would resemble the stock property on the outskirts of town
(where A bombs once were test-
market circa 1929.
What started ed), and he's determined to show
out as a slapstick Clark a good time, whether he
send-up of those likes it or not.
Films like Vegas Vacation defy
claustrophobic
family vacations of traditional analysis, so it doesn't
yore has deterio- matter that Chase sleepsmirks
rated into a plod- through his role or that the plot
ding bore, as is as lightweight as a vanilla
pointless as a wafer. It wouldn't even matter
weekend trip to that the jokes are so obvious — if
only there were more of them.
Scenic Rock.
Except for a few brief se-
In this
quences — like when
latest in-
MOVIES
Quaid leads Chase to a
stallment,
dirt-bag casino wherein
Clark and
Ellen Griswold gamblers bet against the house in
(Chevy Chase and the ageless such games of chance as rock, pa-
Beverly D'Angelo) set out to re- per, scissors and heads or tails —
new their vows in Vegas, drag- the jokescape is as barren as the
ging along offspring Russ and desert that surrounds the glitter
city. Disappointing, because when
Audrey to witness the nuptials.
Well, faster than you can say, it comes to Chevy Chase, people
hit me!, Clark has squandered the expect pratfalls, not tumbleweeds.
Some entertaining films have
family savings on blackjack, Russ
and Audrey have been corrupted come out recently using Nevada's
by yokels and Ellen has been tar- signature oasis as its locale, but,
geted for amore by a mooney just by way of comparison, this
year's Vacation makes last year's
Wayne Newton.
It seems that everyone is hav- Leaving LaS Vegas seem funny.
ing a good time but Clark, whose
guilt level is rising in inverse pro-

I

Rick Halprin is an avid

moviegoer.

— Rick Halprin