The Hot Button by David Poland

Friday, 17 July 1998

WEEKEND PREVIEW

This is a primo movie weekend. Maybe the best of the summer. You've got the first great "movie movie" of the summer in Zorro. None of the effects of Godzilla or Armageddon, but a classic tale of good vs. evil, tons of style, the beautiful damsel (who manages to be of her time and still kick some butt) and the truest movie star performances of the summer from Antonio Banderas, Anthony Hopkins and Catherine Zeta-Jones. This could be the breakthrough hit of the summer. (Or not. Who the hell can figure that out anymore?!) Twenty-eight-million dollars and first place for starters. And watch the word-of-mouth take off.
There's Something About Mary is the best comedy of the summer so far. And again, a serious bit of star power from Cameron Diaz. (Will Hollywood finally figure out what do with her? I don't know. Everyone has wanted to "make her happen" since The Mask, but she's lingering in art films and ensemble pieces. For a beautiful woman, she's showing more comic range than any female star in decades.) Ninteen-million dollars and second place should be a good start, considering this is an R-rated film. You can still see the best drama of the summer of the year in Out of Sight (which looks to drop either to 10th place or out of the Top 10 this weekend with about $2.5 million). I now receive at least one e-mail a day thanking me for being so persistent in pushing this film. And still, not one negative letter about this movie. Of course, next weekend, with the arrival of Saving Private Ryan, the category splits between Best Comedic Drama and Best Serious Drama, so as not to snub either "must-see" film. So get your asses out to the movies, would ya?
I would expect Lethal Weapon 4 to drop by about 45 percent to third place and $18.7 million. In fourth, who else but Armageddon? Will Disney allow the film to drop by 40 percent this week? I don't think they'll have a choice. Fourteen-million. (And I'm being generous. The film should fall by at least 50 percent. 'Nuff said.) Small Soldiers held up pretty well during the week, but this weekend will be the real test. Maybe parents who won't be talked into taking the kids to see the R-rated Mary will satiate their request for edginess with the soldiers. Or maybe they'll just go see Zorro. Or Dr. Dolittle. I expect the good doctor and the good soldiers to be neck and neck, both with about $8.4 million and in a dead heat for sixth and seventh place. The other two kids' films should take eighth and ninth places, with Mulan finally passing the $100 million mark with another $4.2 million and Madeline staying just above the crowd with about $3.2 million. As I wrote before, 10th place could go to Out of Sight or other contenders Six Days, Seven Nights, The Truman Show or The X-Files. We'll know Monday, right?
THE GOOD: I finally saw Lethal Weapon 4. It managed to be enjoyable despite what appeared to be a completely improvised first act, limited use of Jet Li, even more limited use of Rene Russo and the misuse of Chris Rock, who ended up doing two-minute stand-up sets until he finally scored up to his skill level going one-on-one with Pesci. OK, OK, OK. But that's not the "good." The film closes with credits that include photos of almost all the crew. I thought that was great. Sure it's a conceit. Sure Joel Silver seems to be in every photo. But it really reminds an audience that all those names are real people who are of no small importance in making the big names up front able to do their jobs.
THE BAD: I also finally saw Six Days, Seven Nights, and while I was charmed by Harrison Ford and enticed by Anne Heche, I was pretty much appalled with the obvious change of tone the film made after Heche came out of the Ellen closet. The whole "uptight New Yorker" vs. "homespun tough guy" was thrown out the window as a series of worthless action pieces were thrown into the mix. This could have been a really sexy, romantic film. Instead it is fluff which is not even worthy of Ivan Reitman. And what the hell was the wonderful Danny Trejo doing as "Tough Guy No. 3?" And where was the "money shot" of the airplane pontoon flying at the screen? And.... Don't get me started. It could have been great.
THE UGLY: What did Warner Bros. do when movie audiences couldn't quite figure out the combination of cool style and mind-numbing loudness in The Avengers trailer? They made a quicker, simpler preview that is even more confusing and now can boast a total lack of style. And worse, it looks like it was cut with a chainsaw. I mean, these guys are professionals, but this looked hideous. And I saw it twice, for bad measure. The Avengers may be a perplexing film to the WB's marketing department, but now those of us who finally "got" the original trailer don't know what to expect from this movie either.
TWO MOVIES EQUAL: There's Something About Mary + Madeline = There's Something About Madeline. Set in Paris, this modern horror story, directed as a love story by Roman Polanski, stars Ben Stiller as the man who just can't get enough of the Olsen twins (named Madeline and Madeline 2). Watch for the hysterical repeating punchline, "Those Americans are so uptight" and a sight gag that may be funny, but will have to be cut before the film can be legally shown in this country.
JUST WONDERING: Is it me or has David Schwimmer joined the group of "Friends" stars to have gotten breast implants?
BAD AD WATCH: After seeing Lethal Weapon 4, I would have to point to Bobbie Wygant of NBC-TV, whose pull-quote ("Lethal Weapon 4 is the best yet! More action! More laughs! More thrills!") means that she was either looking to take the pull-quote championship from Ron Brewington or was having a brain hemorrhage when they asked her what she thought of the film. I took exception to those who claimed Harry Knowles "couldn't" have cried at Armageddon. Who knows what a person feels when in the throes of patriotism? But I consider it a scientific fact that Lethal Weapon 4 is not the best of the series. I liked the movie OK, but I love the series and there is no way. Not on any level. Not on any objective or emotional basis can you say it's the best. This is non-negotiable. I love Chris Rock, and Jet Li made a very impressive American debut, but Bobbie, Bobbie, Bobbie. How do you look in the paper each day?
READER OF THE DAY: Mark D. responds to Valentine, Thursday's ROTD (THB 7/16) in a letter with the subject line, "My sunny, funny Valentine:" "What is it about movies? What is it about that medium that makes people hate one another's choices so much? How is it that someone would disregard all other considerations and pronounce judgment on my intelligence, ethics and personal integrity if I like a movie that he does not? Why do I hear so much ranting -- passionate to the point of incoherence -- on what is, in the final analysis, such a trivial topic? Why, Dave, why?"
I wish I had an answer. Instead, another ROTD. From Sel: "I have been watching newspaper and TV critics to see if they catch a small, yet annoying, problem with Madeline. I have only taken occasional glimpses at the book, but I do know that this girl is, in fact, supposed to be French. So why does she have an English accent? Why does nearly the entire cast have English accents? I know, it's a minor point, especially when you consider how difficult it is to find a kid to fit the part that can act. But why go with the English accent for everybody? Did they think we don't know the difference? (Do all of us know the difference?) If they're going to have them talk with the wrong accent, I suppose an Austrailian or American or Jamaican would have done just as well. After all, the French and the English have the same kind of relationship Americans have with Canadians (i.e.: they can't stand each other). I wonder what the French think of this movie."

E ME: So, what irritates you more? Film Rage or Brit Syndrome? Or both? Write right now.