The Michigan Daily - Wuhewt e. - Thursday, November 9, 1995 - 3t A Bad Boys' ... whafcha gonna do? I LEXANDRA TWIN Public Access Y~bme o eah, yeah, yeah. Every year, from now until the first New (esr's resolution is spoken, lolywood engages in what is otimonly referred to as "Shame- es$ Exploitation of American ypicism." This occurs when the unanned powers that be churn out pathetic slew of family- or Santa- entered films designed to bring ack the spirit of family together- ess and make us all feel all warm nd runny, or at least guilty about aving a one-parent home. IWs a time of national bonding. It a jime when Bob Dole gets'to ke a nap (which he clearly needs, sWell as some Metamucil). It's Isra time when I begin chanting ngrchist manifestos and generally iugh at those who choose to buy itothis schmaltzy, family wushy- usy nonsense. Mazeltov. 'IAus, (and "thus" is not a word to e thrown about lightly, such as heceforth" or "heretofore"), bem, thus, it is with much great, slfish, American cynicism that I m proud to draw attention to the ew, thoroughly obnoxious "Home r the Holidays." "A Christmas arol" it ain't. The Jodie Foster-directed movie es, this is the Jodie Foster issue of Weekend, etc.") re-examines the nmitigated thrill of Thanksgiving om an entirely different angle, amely, that of the Scrooge in all of s. 1,p it, the central family bicker, irow food at each other and enerally express their extreme ispleasure at having to spend the ompletely over-played and cheesy oliday together. It's meant to be a umorous, light-hearted poke at a -called great American tradition. tany critics and righteous Ameri- ans call it bitter or mean-spirited. I iink it's cool. Then again, I also thought that is summer's supposedly contro- ersial "Kids" was a lot more fun rd dead-on than the happy-go- icky "Clueless," so what do I now? But the point is, whether or ot you find "Home for the Holi- ays" mean-spirited or cynically :curate, there's no question that it riously messes with the typical appy-Holiday film. Meanwhile, perennial good merican Tom Hanks's upcoming roy Story," is yet another feel- ood lesson in family values. It's en animated. What's with all the messages ing thrown at us this time of ar? In the summer, do we see a ew of family-oriented vacation- emed movies mean to sublimi- lly tell us to go visit Yellowstone the Grand Canyon? No, we get a t of guys in tank-tops cursing and vatting at each other. In spring, do e have movies about gardening, urely a sign of family-bonding)? o, spring tends to bring all the ovies that were too awful to lease in the fall-winter and are erefore dumped post-Holidays. So, why this six-week period? rell, it is a time when you are illing to spend your hard-earned eenery on STUFF you will never e, nor will the person you are iying it for. It's also a period hen you have more time on your nds. So, essentially, you're dulgent and bored. More impor- ntly, this is the time of year when ieryone, even the dog, has a cold. ou're sick. You're susceptible. ou're family doesn't look like a By Joshua Rich Daily Film Editor There's a catchy little ditty I'm sure you will recognize; it goes some- thing like this: "Bad boys, bad boys. What'cha gonna do? What'cha gonna do when they come for you?" And if you aren't singing it to yourself by now, then you haven't lived in this decade. So thought two of the biggest block- buster producers when they decided to make the movie that would revive their sluggish filmmaking career. Their idea was to take two popular television stars - the raunchy TV sensation, Martin Lawrence, and "Fresh Prince" Will Smith - and place them in a buddy- cop, "Lethal Weapon"-esque formula flick. Of course, this isn't such an inven- tive or original motion picture creation. But it nevertheless worked for the pro- duction team of Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer; the film grossed many millions of dollars at the box office earlier this year. And like so many of its predecessors, "Bad Boys" not only en- tertains its audience, but also taps into and feeds off of our adventurous and politically-conscious, post-Reagan era minds. After all, Simpson/Bruckheimer are most famous for bringing us the quint- essential film of the Cold War, Reaganomic '80s, "Top Gun" (1986). We all so identified with Maverick, the young hot-shot fighter pilot who split his time between bedding his upwardly- mobile female instructor and fiercely competing with some guy called "Ice- man." What a show! Soon after, this type of plot cre- ation became a phenomenon, a way of making movies that was repeated again and again in such later flicks as Simpson/Bruckheimer's other Tom Cruise vehicle, "Days of Thunder" (1990). Here, of course, we get the same basic characters involved in the same basic escapades, within the same basic story. This time, however, it's all on wheels. But, despite their repetitive, rebel- lious-handsome-guy movie plot schtick, Simpson/Bruckheimer are, in fact, quite far from becoming caricatures of them- selves (a la Joel Silver, presently of "Fair Game" fame). We tend to forget that they also brought us two comic gems in the con- servative '80s, namely, "Beverly Hills Cop" (1984) and "Beverly Hills Cop 2" (1987). In these films, Eddie Murphy goes so far as to mock the anal-retentive whine of a white police officer or the stuck-up bravado of a European art gallery owner. He noticeably contrasts with the hot-dogging Cruise who zips around in his jet or stock car. Since the late-'80s, however - and, perhaps since America has leaned back towards the left and abandoned the ego- tistic and materialistic morals of that decade - this super duo has been in a slump. With the insufferable "Days of Thunder" came about five years of ob- scurity, in which time, no doubt, the two were forced to re-evaluate their game plan. Hence, in 1995, we have three in- stallments from the Simpson/ Bruckheimer cache of action-oriented flicks, as led by the banal yet surpris- ingly amusing "Bad Boys" (new on home video this week). The two also teamed-up to bring us the Michelle Pfeiffer vehicle "Dangerous Minds," thus reviving the "Lean on Me"/"Stand and Deliver" big-smart-man-teaches- little-poor-hoodlum mode of film themes. Yet this time the feel-good film rests on more of a social everyone-can- and-should-be-helped motif. They also produced one of the year's most exciting action-dramas, "Crim- son Tide," reminding us that even though the Cold War is over, our big- gest enemy remains within ourselves. Furthermore, we may realize that no matter what happens, Simpson/ Bruckheimer can still put out an excel- lent flick that will spark our adrenaline pumps as much as it tickles our minds. For such additional stimulation, we need only wait until next week, when "Crim- son Tide" appears on our friendly local I "Hey, you hoodlum back there! Oh, wait, 'Dangerous Minds' is a feel good movie." video store shelves. Until then, how- ever, "Bad Boys" will certainly suffice. Other recent releases include: "A Great Day in Harlem" - This fascinating documentary examines the various personalities captured in a his- toric 1958 Esquire magazine photo- graph of prolific jazz musicians. A true must-see! "Mad Love" - Really, though, what's the point of this movie? All you really have to do is just turn on MTV and watch "The Real World," or some- thing. "Miracle on 34th Street" - All the pomp, magic and yule tide cheer of the holiday season without the Burl. "My Family/Mi Familia" - Jimmy Smits makes the big leap back to the silver screen after starring in such clas- sic bombs as "Old Gringo" and "Switch." Get this man an agent! On video next week: Crimson /a Tide Dolores Claiborne~ Strawberry and Chocolate Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home~ The Underneath Drew Barrymore soars Into video stores this week In "Mad Love." Charbrolled Burgers & Chicken Weekday In-House Specials Homemade Soup Columbo Frozen Yogurt Chose any of our 22 Cereal, Candy, &v Fruit Shakesi Sandwiches " Salads Buffalo Wings * Chili * Fries Smoke Free Environment pen7gays * lam-llpm Weekdays Evening Campus Area Delivery 812 S. State Streei 769-5650 320 South State St.- Ann Arbor (LOCAlDABOVEDECM DRUGS) Free billiards Retro Rock Dance Satellite sports Night w/DJ Chuck Food & drink specials Drink specials all night No cover $1 Cover * 21+ on 11/22 Not just anyone can be responsible for territory not you're a leader of Marines. It's a career that's like this. Then again, not just anyone can be one filled with unlimited opportunities, pride and of us. But if you're exceptionally smart, tough e honor. If you want a career that's a world apart and determined, then Officer Candidates School from the ordinary, see if you've got what it (OCS) will be the place you can prove whether or rmerkm A TdaArmin takes to lead in this company College Night Ann Arbor's Biggest Outrageous contests! Modern RockHAPPY BRTHDAY MARNES Tons of giveaways! Dance Parties -r... NPYBRHAMRNS No cover wlstudent ID 21+ ' ApCaptain Conley and Captain Anderson will be at the EECS Atrium area today, ,FRIDAYNovember 9th, from 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM, handing out more information on SMarine Corps Officer Programs. For faster action, call 1-800-892-7318. Semper Fi! oPaanett alM r ' oEi-11 11 UNIVERSITY Y O F I CFH I G A N - : -- 4 + 'r+ ,ter r; -- i M"+w .. 1 - S .-- ---.. . .. . . . . . .~~p -.. -~ 2PE RF O&MANCES ! PERF_----_____- :.: w+id i.+.c n.""- ::.:rim. -w ;. L -"-- T &y 1ttY s Y4 I:.:_... _ R ; f X11 i ' :r- ...,, a " 4 ~4W4+^ . ~r . MX - .v r! "'. - "oV . ' n 4. 136th ANNUAL FALL CONCFRT Jerry Blackstone, Director u sr,.to i, a