Reel to Reel - Movie Reviews by Jon Chattman

3-20-00

Game Over

Over 300 shopping days left 'til Christmas, and a film centering around the December holiday is released—come again? "Reindeer Games" is more naughty than nice, and is more of a been there/done that kind of film than being original.

Ben Affleck as Rudy, as in Rudolph, who, along with his cellmate Nick, is days away from being released from prison after spending six months in the can for grand theft auto. Rudy is about to head home for Christmas dinner, while Nick is about to meet his pen pal whom he has been writing to during his jail time.

On the eve of their release from prison, Nick is fatally stabbed. Seeing the pen pal blonde bombshell on his way out of prison, Rudy passes himself off as his cellmate to Ashley, played by Charlize Theron, who is much more convincing in "The Cider House Rules."

Out of prison, and in Ashley's bed, Rudy later finds that her sleazy truck driving brother (Gary Sinise)—thinking he's Nick—""wants him to help out his gang of thugs in a robbery of a casino, which Nick once worked at and knew the ins and outs of the layout.

The performances are rather bland with Affleck's acting going on and off. In some scenes he reads his lines with conviction, with others—he shows little emotion and remains stone-faced. In other roles, Sinise overacts resembling a Harley Davidson version of his Lt. Dan character from "Forrest Gump" as Ashley's brother, and Theron fairs better by keeping moviegoers guessing with her character.

"Reindeer Games" is disappointingly entertaining. It plays like a Quentin Tarantino film without the witty dialogue.

Grade: B-

Disconnect "Hanging Up"

Diane Keaton, Meg Ryan, and Lisa Kudrow portray sisters in "Hanging Up," a film that plays like a really bad AT&T commercial. The film focuses on Ryan, who plays the middle sister who cares after her mentally ill father played by Walter Matthau, who must have been mentally unstable for selecting this role.

Ryan's character spends the whole time getting—surprise, surprise—hung up on by her self-involved sisters, Keaton, a famous magazine editor and Kudrow, a soap opera star.

Everyone involved in "Hanging Up" should keep this slop off their resume. Keaton, who also directed this sappy film, Kudrow, Ryan, and Matthau give the worst performances of their career, and the screenwriting team of the Ephron sisters should think before scripting another film. Call your friends, call your family, call anyone—just tell them to "Hanging up" is a downer.

Grade: F

A familiar but funny 'Planet'

Surprisingly a film that features Garry Shandling in a sex scene not to mention his ass is not all that bad. Despite its predictability and recycled aliens-come-to-earth premise, Shandling is hysterical in the new film by director Mike Nichols.

"What Planet Are You From?" stars the comedian, who also co-wrote the film, as an alien who is sent to earth to save the existence of his all-male planet by mating with an earthling, impregnating her, and bringing the baby back to his home planet.

A fetching Annette Bening co-stars as the literally down-to-earth real estate agent (a la her role in "American Beauty") who wins the alien's affection. John Goodman has some funny moments as an airline agent on the alien's tracks. The supporting cast , including Greg Kinnear and Ben Kingsley, are as excellent as they are wasted.

Grade: B

Jumping on the Mafia bandwagon that kicked off last year with "The Sopranos," "Analyze This," and the moderate mob hit "Mickey Blue Eyes," comes "The Whole Nine Yards," a would-be comedy about a contract killer, who moves to the Canadian suburbs and next door to a clumsy and insecure dentist and his deceitful wife.

Bruce Willis provides surprisingly little flair as the hitman, and Rosanna Arquette supplies the film with a horribly phony French accent and a performance that matches it.  Only Matthew Perry is allowed to steal the show, doing so by his mere clumsiness and zany facial expressions.

"Green Mile" Oscar nominee Michael Clarke Duncan, as another hitman, and TV's "Jack" from "Jack and Jill," Amanda Peet, add some zest to this "Analyze This" knock-off.

"The Whole Nine Yards" is miles away from being funny, and should be whacked off of its top box office spot shortly.

Grade: D