Monday April 12, 2004 arts.michigandaily.com artseditor@michigandaily.com RTS 5A Albom's sophomore novel hits and misses By Bonnie Kelman Daily Arts Writer BOOK REVI EW * Eddie's life is not extraordinary. As a maintenance worker at Ruby Pier amusement park, he has never achieved anything remarkable. Then, at the beginning of another mundane day, the Freddy's Free-Fall ride mal- functions and plummets to the earth toward a little girl lying on the ground. Eddie attempts to save her, only to be killed himself. This is the end of his life as well as the begin- 'Tuesdays with~ Morrie 'outesy 0th"Ce"nury ox Did I tell you about that cougar trap? SEX APPEAL CUTHBERT EXCITES AUDIENCES IN 'GIRL the five people youmeetin heaven ning of his story, for "all endings are also begin- nings. We just don't know it at the time." In "The Five People You Meet in Heaven," TheFive People You Meet in Heaven By Mitch Albom Hyperion By Zach Borden For the Daily MOVIE REVIEW Even though the R-rated teen comedy has been around since the '80s with films such as "Porky's," it didn't really make a comeback until the late '90s with the "Amer- ican Pie" series. While it's unclear if "The Girl Next Door" is poised for The Girl sleeper success, Next Door it's certainly a AtQuality16, cut above films Showcase and like "Euro Madstone Trip." 20th Century Fox "The Girl Next Door" is the epitome of every teenage male's fantasy. The film focuses on Matthew Kidman (Emile Hirsch, "The Emperor's Club"), a straight-arrow high school senior who's headed to Georgetown if he can win a schol- arship. The story kicks into high gear when the comely Danielle (Elisha Cuthbert, TV's "24") moves in next door, and the two quickly fall in love. Just as things seem perfect for Matthew, his world is rocked when he discovers that she once was a porn star. Things only get more complicated from there, as Danielle's ex-boyfriend - a porn producer named Kelly (Timothy Olyphant, TV's "Deadwood) - drags her back into the world she left behind. Matthew becomes des- perate to save her and is soon caught up in things he would never think of doing before he met Danielle. While it could be argued that "The Girl Next Door" is similar to "Risky Business," the film can claim some originality. There is an underlying sweetness to the film's protagonists and the love story is surprisingly sweet. The main prob- lem with "The Girl Next Door" is that its story arc is incredibly uneven. The film is supposed to be a teenage comedy, but it ends up being a strange hybrid that can be described as a balance between raunch and romance. Some scenes Couresy 01 of20thentury Fox I'm too sexy for my shirt. are way too dark - like when Kelly attacks Matthew in the car - and director Luke Greenfield seems to love overstuffing the story with too many intertwining subplots that wrap up too neatly. The actors' performances help elevate the film to an interesting and respectable level. Hirsch gives a nice vulnerability to his straight- man role and has some great comedic timing. The chemistry between Cuthbert and him is good, which makes it easier to buy into their whirlwind romance. Still, the standout performer is Olyphant. He works the "friend-or-foe" angle of his character marvelously, and despite some scenes where he becomes overbearing, he never goes over the top. "The Girl Next Door" is a like- able movie, but it is rather pre- dictable and feels strangely familiar in its plotlines. While it is not necessarily one of the better teen comedies, it could have been much stronger if the film's story was tightened up and if its ele- ments were more even-handed. Michigander and Detroit Free Press columnist Mitch Albom relates Eddie's journey through the afterlife. Eddie discovers that heaven does not consist of fluffy, white clouds and golden gates. Rather, it is a place where people go to begin to under- stand their lives here on earth. Albom's journalistic background is evident in his prose. He writes in a simple and straightforward manner, making "Five People" a quick and easy read, much like his previous novel, "Tuesdays with Morrie." His latest also explores the meaning that is hidden in the normal and everyday. "Five People," however, does not begin well. The first 50 pages.sug- gest that the novel will be an overly simplified and sentimental tale about finding meaning in a mun- dane existance, similar to the film "It's a Wonderful Life." Like George Bailey, Eddie is a little too perfect and self-sacrificing, which is especially true of his hereoic death. The tale is nice, but flat and unconvincing. Once Eddie's character is devel- oped more, however, the story improves immensely. Eddie is not an angel after all, but has more than his share of faults and troubles. During his life, Eddie was not a happy man. He was raised by a neglectful father, was held as a prisoner of war during World War II and was forced to give up his dreams of traveling and becoming an engineer in order to take care of his mother. These events leave him scarred and bitter; a dark cloud hangs over him and he feels as if his life were a failure. Not surprisingly, once he reaches heaven, Eddie learns that his life was not in vain after all. There, he travels through the personal heavens of five people who were touched by his life. One by one, they each teach him a lesson until he is eventually able to come to terms with his time on earth. "The Five People You Meet in Heaven," much like Eddie's life, is ordinary. Albom does not impart any new revelations, nor is his writ- ing incredibly poignant. However, like Eddie's life, the novel has its redeeming qualities. Somehow, in;a few key moments, Albom does manage to touch the heart of the reader with this simple and straightforward tale. Craig Barrett Chief Executive Officer, Intel Corporation A World of Digital Transformations Wednesday, April 14, 2004, 4 p.m. Dorothy L. and Harry E. Chesebrough Auditorium Chrysler Center North Campus, University of Michigan Dr Barrett will discuss the changes occurring to organizations and individuals worldwide from the use of digital technology. He will review the trends, emerging fields and opportunities for technology advancements. MichiganEngineering 1 8 5 4- 2 0 0 4