Betty Thomas’ film about and starring controversial radio personality Howard Stern, Private Parts (B-) turns out to be more genial than genital. Instead of showcasing the sex-obsessed shock jock, the film portrays Stern as a doting husband. It’s sometimes sweet but not necessarily what fans may have expected. Still there’s plenty of funny stuff and gross gags here too.
Tag Archives: Comedy
“Scream 2” Provides Many Meta Thrills
Wes Craven’s Scream 2 (B-) tries to one-up its tongue-in-cheek predecessor by satirizing sequels, often with great success. But the film-within-a-film and the story-within-a-story conceits may sometimes make this a little too meta for its own good. Still it is twisty, thrilling and united the original cast with enough surprises that it stands on its own with more of the brand of fun fans of the franchise will come to expect.
We Find “Trial and Error” Guilty of Not Being Funny
In a season when Meg Ryan went grunge, Madonna struck a family-friendly pose and everyone on Friends tried to branch into movie stardom, it’s a bit refreshing to watch Seinfeld star Michael Richards playing to his strengths as a man who has to pose as an attorney to defend a buddy. Jonathan Lynn’s Trial & Error (B-) provides a vehicle for TV’s “Kramer” to showcase screwball courtroom comedy opposite Jeff Daniels and Charlize Theron. Lynn directed My Cousin Vinny, so it’s standard fare in that vein.
Goofy Golf Comedy “Happy Gilmore” Putters Around to Occasional Amusement
Despite its cult status as a legendary golf comedy, the short game of Dennis Dugan’s Happy Gilmore (B-) is a lot of sputter before it sparks. The film is a vehicle for Adam Sandler whose latest variation an his signature angry man-child finds him recoiling from a stillborn career as a hockey player to find he’s potentially more adept at clubbing golf balls. Part loving lark to life on the fairway, part caddy smack down with rage-fueled rants and pratfalls, the film is funniest in its absurdist moments involving fights with alligators in hazards and surly game show hosts partnered for pro/am competition. The film features a lively golf ball POV, nifty needle drops and even a sweet love story with Julie Bowen. Much of the humor comes from unconventional activities on the greens as our hero endeavors to save his grandma’s house from foreclosure by accumulating tournament season winnings. The supporting cast of Christopher McDonald as a rival and Carl Weathers as a coach/mentor stand out among Sandler series regulars. Amidst the juvenile humor, there’s a good deal of heart and a fun finale as the title character eschews ice for slice and ultimately hits it big.
“Space Jam” Scores with Families
Basketball superstar Michael Jordan proves to be the ultimate good sport in his film debut opposite Bugs Bunny in Joe Pytka’s family adventure Space Jam (B-). This blend of live action and animation surrounding an intergalactic hoops game to solve a rivalry is mostly throwaway, but the charms of favorite Looney Tunes characters will keep kids and adults entertained throughout the cheery, self-effacing glee.
“Mother” (1996) is Comedy Bliss
The auteur of anxiety Albert Brooks stars in and directs Mother (A-), a film about a twice-divorced writer who must move back in with his mom. She is magnificently played by the legendary Debbie Reynolds. This generation gap comedy presents an odd couple worth watching.
“The Birdcage” is Hilarious Comedy of Manners
Robin Williams and Nathan Lane are birds of a feather in Mike Nichols’ lightweight comedy The Birdcage (B), based on the French classic La Cage Aux Folles. Their tale of an alternative American family is filled with larger-than-life gags. But for all the preening queens run amuck, there are actually some nice domestic moments between the central couple and the son they reared together that blaze some trails on acceptance. It’s super-funny and proof that it takes all types to make a family.
Danny Boyle’s “Trainspotting” Takes You Through the Ringer
Danny Boyle’s Trainspotting (B) is a veritable steam engine of a film showcasing the life of junkies from the other side of the tracks. Ewan McGregor charges onto the scene in a star-making performance, and Boyle’s grim, swirling visual odyssey gives viewers a one-way ticket to the human abyss. There’s a whole lot of surreal locomotion as the film alternates from comedy to surreal drama, all in an original, efficient tale.
“The Mirror Has Two Faces” is Enjoyable Streisand Romance
Barbra Streisand stars and takes the director’s chair for The Mirror Has Two Faces (A-), a superb romantic comedy about the modern myths of beauty and relationships. Paired with Jeff Bridges as dating professors, it’s an intellectual look at the modern rituals of romance. Lauren Bacall is a hoot as Streisand’s character’s sassy mom. The two Streisands – actress and director – score a triumph with comedy and drama in this story about a couple courting chaos and confusion.
Show Me the Emotion! “Jerry Maguire” is a Knockout
The man who played America’s top gun, a cocky race car driver, an acrobatic bartender, a brooding vampire and a covert operator is now on the sidelines as Tom Cruise plays the agent behind the sports superstars. Cameron Crowe’s Jerry Maguire (A) is about a man who comes down to earth and discovers what truly matters when he finds romance, discovers a sort of surrogate parenthood and finds a client who can count on him regardless of his prestige. To paraphrase a famous line, the film “had me at hello” with superb performing performances by Renee Zellweger and Cuba Gooding Jr. as the agent’s loyalists. Crowe uses lovely pop music including Bruce Springsteen’s “Secret Garden” to trace the emotional and romantic journey. Cruise has never been better and gives one of his most restrained and generous performances.
“Scream” (1996) Rewrites the Rules of the Horror Film
Wes Craven deconstructs scary with Scream (B+), a smart comedy/horror hybrid that features characters who are in the know about the rules of horror movies and still fall into their wicked traps. Courteney Cox, Drew Barrymore, David Arquette and Neve Campbell are strong in the ensemble, and Kevin Williamson’s witty screenplay is truly the star. Craven is the perfect veteran director to both amplify the body counts and multiply the laughs as the proceedings get more and more horrific.
Unfunny “House Arrest” is Grounded for Life
Kevin Pollack and Jamie Lee Curtis star in Harry Winer’s preposterous comedy House Arrest (F) about a bunch of kids who lock their bickering parents in the basement until they resolve their disputes. Billed as a family film, this pitiful exercise in annoyance wastes the talents of both its adult and child stars. It’s kind of the opposite of a night out (or in) at the movies.