NEW FILMS FRIDAY
AIR FORCE ONE - Russian terrorists hijack the presidential plane, with Chief Executive Harrison Ford and his family on board. Glenn Close plays the first female vice president. Directed by Wolfgang Petersen ("In the Line of Fire"). Reviewed in this section on Page W1. R (violence, profanity, gore, vulgarity). (Carmike 12, Century, Cottonwood, Crossroads, Midvalley, Reel, Sandy 9, Trolley North; Valley Vu, with "Anaconda.")
GOOD BURGER - A full-length, big-screen version of the "Good Burger" restaurant comedy sketches (featuring teen stars Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell) from the kiddie cable channel Nickelodeon's "All That" series. Reviewed in this section on Page W5. PG (violence, vulgarity, profanity). (Carmike 12, Century, Gateway, Holladay, Plaza 5400; Redwood, with "Face/Off"; Reel, Sandy 9, Trolley Square.)
NEW FILM WEDNESDAY
187 - High school teacher Samuel L. Jackson learns that things are the same everywhere after he moves from Brooklyn to California following a near-fatal attack by a student. To be reviewed when it opens. R (profanity, violence, drugs, racial epithets, gore, nudity, profanity). (Broadway, Carmike 12, Century, Sandy 9, South Towne.)
KIDS MATINEES
ANDRE - * * - Set in the early '60s, this cutesy girl-and-her-seal yarn is purportedly a true story, about a Maine family that nurses a baby seal to health, teaches it tricks and then finds the darn thing won't go back to live in the sea. A sort of "Free Willy," seal-style. The major assets here are Tina Majorino, a wonderful little actress, and the oldies soundtrack. PG (vulgarity, violence). (Sandcastle, Tuesday and Wednesday, 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m.) (Sept. 7, 1994) - C.H.
FLIPPER - * * 1/2 - The intelligent, crime-fighting dolphin gets a new '90s look in this rehash of the familiar story (filmed first as a pair of '60s movies, then two TV series), this time with Elijah Wood as a troubled teen who is sent to live with his fisherman uncle (Paul Hogan) in a tropical paradise. Amusing, if overly familiar family fare. PG (violence, profanity). (Valley Fair, Tuesday and Wednesday, 10 a.m.) (May 17, 1996) - C.H.
MIDNIGHT MOVIES
REPO MAN - * * 1/2 - Odd, uneven cult sci-fi/comedy from director Alex Cox ("Sid & Nancy") about two repossessions men (Emilio Estevez and Harry Dean Stanton) searching for an extraterrestrial payload hidden in a stolen car. A lot of dry stretches, but helped by a great punk-rock soundtrack (which includes the Circle Jerks and Black Flag). R (violence, profanity, sex, drug use). (Brewvies, starting Sunday.) - J.V.
SPECIAL SCREENINGS
BRIGHAM YOUNG - * * * - Enjoyable, but highly fictionalized version of LDS Church leader Brigham Young's struggle to lead his fellow church members on their westward trek. Good performances - including Dean Jagger as Young and Vincent Price's brief appearance as Joseph Smith - and huge outdoor scenes help things out greatly. Made before ratings (1940), probable G. (Avalon.) - J.V.
SIXTEEN CANDLES - * * * - The first teaming of star Molly Ringwald and director John Hughes yielded some of the best results, with this frequently funny, but at times tasteless, comedy. Ringwald plays a teen feeling neglected during the hubbub over her sister's wedding. Watch for John Cusack's brief stint as a high-school nerd PG (vulgarity, violence, profanity). (Sugar House.) - J.V.
CONTINUING FILMS
ADDICTED TO LOVE - * * * - Dark romantic comedy about a stay-at-home midwesterner (Matthew Broderick) who teams up with a hardened New Yorker (Meg Ryan) to bring misery to the former lovers who dumped them (Kelly Preston and Tcheky Karyo). Quirky and funny, though it runs out of steam toward the end. R (sex, profanity, vulgarity, violence, brief nudity). (Family Center, Sugar House, Valley Fair.) (May 23, 1997) - C.H.
ANACONDA - turkey - Unintentionally funny monster movie about a crew of documentary filmmakers (including Eric Stoltz, Jennifer Lopez and Ice Cube) going upriver in the Amazon who are used as snake bait by a crazed poacher (Jon Voight). Camp dialogue to spare, along with blatant theft from "Jaws" and "The Creature from the Black Lagoon." PG-13 (violence, gore, profanity, vulgarity, sex, native nudity). (Sugar House, Valley Fair; Valley Vu, with "Air Force One.") (April 11, 1997) - C.H.
AUSTIN POWERS: INTERNATIONAL MAN OF MYSTERY - turkey - Mike Myers (who co-wrote, co-produced and stars) hits bottom with this mirthless off-the-wall comedy about a '60s swinging superspy who is frozen for 30 years, then thaws to find himself hopelessly out of date in the '90s. Liberally laced with vulgar sex gags that are wildly inappropriate for its PG-13 rating. PG-13 (violence, sex, nudity, profanity, vulgarity). (Sandy Starships, Sugar House.) (May 2, 1997) - C.H.
BATMAN & ROBIN - * * - George Clooney is the Dark Knight in this cluttered, frenzied fourth entry in the series, which has Batman, Robin (Chris O'Donnell) and Batgirl (Alicia Silverstone) going up against Mr. Freeze (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and Poison Ivy (Uma Thurman). Schwarzenegger is "The Terminator" programmed to tell jokes, O'Donnell is bland and Silverstone is awful. Only Thurman rises above the chaos with a funny, sexy, scary performance. PG-13 (violence, vulgarity, profanity). (Midvalley, Olympus; Redwood, with "Contact.") (June 20, 1997) - C.H.
BREAKDOWN - * * * - A genuine white-knuckle thriller that plays out as more intelligent and believable than most, with Kurt Russell and Kathleen Quinlan's car breaking down in the Southwest desert. And then Quinlan disappears! Builds gradually and cleverly, with J.T. Walsh great as the nasty villain of the piece. Filmed partly in Moab. R (violence, profanity, vulgarity). (Sugar House, Valley Fair.) (May 2, 1997) - C.H.
CON AIR - * * 1/2 - This thriller about killers taking over a plane is as ridiculous as they come, but it gets a boost by an unlikely cast headed by Nicolas Cage, John Cusack and John Malkovich. Some good humor and wild stunts (with the requisite fireballs and impossible escapes), but nasty, sordid subplots seem out of place. Filmed partly in Ogden, Salt Lake City and Wendover. R (violence, gore, attempted rape, profanity, vulgarity, racial epithets). (Broadway, Carmike 12, Cinemas 5; Redwood, with "Nothing to Lose"; Reel, Sandy 9.) (June 6, 1997) - C.H.
CONTACT - * * * - Well-made, scientifically sound adaptation of Carl Sagan's bestselling novel about mysterious signals from space picked up by an astronomer who is obsessed with finding life in outer space. Jodie Foster (at her most mannered) has the lead, with James Woods, Tom Skerritt and Matthew McConaughey lending support. Marred by silly movie conventions, but still engrossing. PG (violence, profanity, vulgarity, sex, brief partial nudity). (Broadway, Century, Gateway, Holladay, Plaza 5400; Redwood, with "Batman & Robin"; South Towne.) (July 11, 1997) - C.H.
FACE/OFF - * * * - Bizarre horror/sci-fi/action thriller from director John Woo ("Broken Arrow") has a crackpot plot, laced with absolutely stunning stunts and chases. Troubled FBI agent John Travolta uses high-tech plastic surgery to impersonate a nutso terrorist (Nicolas Cage) - then, the terrorist does the same thing to take on the agent's identity! Too violent and profane but extremely entertaining. R (violence, gore, profanity, vulgarity, drugs, nude cartoon) (Carmike 12, Cinemas 5, Creekside, Flick, Gateway; Redwood, with "Good Burger"; Sandy 9.) (June 27, 1997) - C.H.
FETISHES - Documentary director Nick Bloomfield ("Heidi Fleiss: Hollywood Madam") explores New York's underground, sadomasochistic "parlors" and the people who patronize them. Not rated, probable NC-17 (violence, sex, nudity, profanity, vulgarity). (Exclusive, Tower.)
THE FIFTH ELEMENT - * * 1/2 - Visually dazzling sci-fi set in the 23rd century, with cab driver Bruce Willis becoming mixed up with a genetically engineered young woman (Milla Jovovich) and a nervous monk (Ian Holm) as they try to prevent an "evil" fireball from destroying the Earth. A wacky comedy with a story so convoluted that it makes no sense whatsoever - but there's lots of eye candy. PG-13 (violence, nudity, sex, profanity, vulgarity). (Brewvies, Family Center, Kaysville; Redwood, with "Men in Black"; Sandy Starships, Sugar House, Valley Fair.) (May 9, 1997) - C.H.
GEORGE OF THE JUNGLE - * 1/2 - The cult TV cartoon show is adapted as a live-action farce, with Brendan Fraser as the buffed-up dummy in this broad, low-humor spoof of "Tarzan." Some amusing gags and a great computer-generated elephant (that acts like a dog), but too many vulgar and stupid jokes make much of it dull going. John Cleese voices the talking ape. PG (violence, vulgarity, brief partial nudity). (Carmike 12, Century, Cottonwood, Flick, Gateway, Plaza 5400; Redwood, with "Hercules"; Reel, Sandy 9.) (July 16, 1997) - C.H.
GONE FISHIN' - turkey - A troubled production that should have gone straight to video, this lame destruction comedy has two lifelong fishing buddies (Joe Pesci and Danny Glover) winning a trip to the Florida Everglades, where they get mixed up with a con artist/killer and two women looking for him (Rosanna Arquette and Lynn Whitfield). One poorly devised slapstick sequence after another and a phenomenal waste of talent. PG (violence, vulgarity, profanity, bikini babes). (Cinemas 5.) (June 1, 1997) - C.H.
GROSSE POINTE BLANK - * * 1/2 - Some hilarious bits of business punctuate this one-joke, morally bankrupt satire about a hit man (John Cusack) who reluctantly attends his 10-year high school reunion, as he tries to rekindle an old romance (with Minnie Driver) and is stalked by rival assassin Dan Aykroyd. Killing people and cracking wise is wearing out its welcome, but this one is very funny in places. R (violence, sex, profanity, drugs). (Sugar House.) (April 11, 1997) - C.H.
HERCULES - * * * * - Hilarious Disney animated comedy mixes up its Greek mythology and throws in all kinds of modern gags to tell the story of the son of Zeus, trained by a satyr so he can go up against evil Hades. Great sight gags and terrific voice work from Danny DeVito, Susan Egan, Rip Torn, Bobcat Goldthwait, Matt Frewer and especially James Woods. Might be a bit violent for very young ones. G (cartoon violence and gore, mild vulgarity). (Broadway, Gateway, Plaza 5400; Redwood, with "George of the Jungle"; Reel, South Towne, Villa.) (June 27, 1997) - C.H.
JUNGLE 2 JUNGLE - * * - Tim Allen stars in this silly culture-clash/"wild child" farce about a workaholic Manhattan stock broker saddled with a 13-year-old son who was raised in the Amazon. Some amusing moments but mostly the same old crass gags and pop-culture references. Martin Short, Lolita Davidovich and JoBeth Williams co-star. PG (comic violence, vulgarity). (Kaysville, Valley Fair.) (March 7, 1997) - C.H.
LIAR, LIAR - * * * - Jim Carrey stars in this wacked-out fantasy-comedy as a lawyer whose son's birthday wish magically forces Dad to tell the truth for 24 hours. Carrey is way over the top, but the material serves him well and there are many hysterical scenes. It's also quite raunchy (though not as crass as the "Ace Ventura" flicks or "Dumb & Dumber"). PG-13 (sex, vulgarity, profanity, partial nudity, violence). (Kaysville, Sandcastle, Sandy Starships, Sugar House, Valley Fair.) (March 21, 1997) - C.H.
THE LOST WORLD: JURASSIC PARK - * * 1/2 - Cold, money-motivated sequel has no warmth, practically no story and is loaded with dumb contrivances. But it does have wall-to-wall action - director Steven Spielberg's specialty - and that may be enough for summer audiences. Jeff Goldblum returns to lead another expedition to another island loaded with more species of dinosaurs in this bigger-is-better special-effects extravaganza. PG-13 (violence, gore, profanity). (Cinemas 5, Murray, Olympus, Sandy 9.) (May 23, 1997) - C.H.
LOVE! VALOUR! COMPASSION! - * * 1/2 - It may be the umpteenth remake of "The Return of the Secaucus Seven" by a gay filmmaker or playwright, but this big-screen adaptation of Terrence McNally's award-winning Broadway play, about a group of gay men weekending at a country house, benefits from superb performances by stars John Glover and Jason Alexander (TV's "Seinfeld"). R (profanity, nudity, vulgarity, sex, violence, racial epithets). (Exclusive, Tower.) - (July 18, 1997) J.V.
MEN IN BLACK - * * * - An amusing, if derivative and at times uneven, sci-fi-thriller/comedy from the director of "The Addams Family" and "Get Shorty" and producer Steven Spielberg. In it, two dark-suited security agents (Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones) must stop an intergalactic terrorist from stealing a galaxy (!). Great special effects and some audacious sight gags greatly help, but some are spoiled by the film's overly revealing trailers. PG-13 (violence, profanity, gore, vulgarity). (Century, Gateway, Holladay, Plaza 5400; Redwood, with "The Fifth Element"; Reel, South Towne, Trolley Corners.) (July 3, 1997) - J.V.
MY BEST FRIEND'S WEDDING - * * - Julia Roberts is luminous in a part reminiscent of her starmaking "Pretty Woman" role, but her character does some despicable things as she plots to sabotage her pal Dermot Mulroney's marriage to spunky Cameron Diaz. Sluggish in the second half, but Rupert Everett is hysterical as Roberts' gay editor. PG-13 (two extremely vulgar gags, profanity, comic violence). (Carmike 12, Cottonwood, Gateway, Midvalley; Redwood, with "Operation Condor"; Sandy 9, Trolley Square.) (June 20, 1997). - C.H.
NIGHT FALLS ON MANHATTAN - * * - After "Serpico," "Prince of the City" and "Q&A," writer-director Sidney Lumet goes for another New York melodrama about corrupt law enforcement. But this one is bland, superficial and slow, despite good performances. Andy Garcia is an idealistic assistant DA who finds himself on the fast-track to becoming district attorney. Richard Dreyfuss, Lena Olin and Ron Leibman co-star. R (violence, profanity, vulgarity). (Family Center, Sugar House, Valley Fair.) (May 16, 1997) - C.H.
NOTHING TO LOSE - * * - There is some funny business here, thanks to the inspired, if unlikely teaming of Tim Robbins and Martin Lawrence as worlds-apart ordinary Joes who are thrown together by fate and then decide to pull off a heist. But the script and direction by Steve Oedekerk ("Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls") are as dull as can be. R (violence, profanity, vulgarity, sex, partial nudity). (Century, Creekside, Gateway, Plaza 5400; Redwood, with "Con Air"; South Towne, Trolley Square.) (July 18, 1997) - C.H.
OPERATION CONDOR - * * * - Jackie Chan's latest teams him with three independent women for a spoof of "Raiders of the Lost Ark." But plot is secondary to the amazing stunt work and a bevy of hysterical slapstick routines. Chan also co-wrote and directed this one, which is among his best, funniest films. PG-13 (violence, vulgarity, nudity). (Carmike 12, Century, Midvalley; Redwood, with "My Best Friend's Wedding"; Sandy 9, Trolley North, Trolley Square.) (July 18, 1997) - C.H.
OUT TO SEA - * * 1/2 - "Grumpy Old Men Take a Cruise." Thin, sitcom-style script hampers this vehicle for Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau, brothers-in-law who pose as dance hosts on a cruise - except that Matthau can't dance! Some very funny bits of business, some obviously improvised, from a pair of old pros. Hal Linden, Donald O'Connor and other familiar faces have little to do, though Brent Spiner (Data on "Star Trek: The Next Generation") gets some laughs as a slimy lounge lizard. PG-13 (vulgarity, profanity). (Broadway, Carmike 12, Creekside, Midvalley, Sandy 9, Trolley North.) (July 2, 1997) - C.H.
ROMY & MICHELE'S HIGH SCHOOL REUNION - * 1/2 - At the heart of this sometimes mean-spirited and often foul-mouthed screwball comedy, there's a funny premise - two aging valley girls (Mira Sorvino and Lisa Kudrow) pretend to be successful to impress former classmates at their 10-year high school reunion. Unfortunately, that's only 30 minutes worth of material, not 90 minutes. R (profanity, vulgarity). (Valley Fair.) (April 25, 1997) - J.V.
THE SAINT - * 1/2 - Val Kilmer stars in this action-thriller about a high-rolling thief who adopts various disguises and funny accents. He is hired by a Russian billionaire to steal a formula for cold fusion from love-starved scientist Elisabeth Shue, but he falls in love with her. Lots of explosions and chases, but underdeveloped characters and idiotic plotting do it in. PG-13 (violence, sex, profanity, nude statue). (Kaysville, Sandy Starships, Sugar House.) (April 4, 1997) - C.H.
A SIMPLE WISH - * - Mara Wilson ("Matilda") is absolutely darling as a young girl who wishes for her father to get a part in a Broadway play, but the rest of the cast is pretty embarrassing in this special-effects fantasy. Especially Martin Short, as a rookie fairy godmother, and Kathleen Turner as a former fairy godmother-turned-witch. PG (comic violence, profanity, vulgarity). (Broadway, Cinemas 5, Holladay, South Towne.) (July 11, 1997) - C.H.
SPEED 2: CRUISE CONTROL - * * - Ridiculous sequel to the first film has Sandra Bullock on a cruise ship instead of a bus, this time helping her new boyfriend (Jason Patric) battle a demented computer wizard (Willem Dafoe) who has taken over the ship to pull off a diamond heist. "Under Siege" meets "The Poseidon Adventure" by way of the "Love Boat." PG-13 (violence, profanity, vulgarity). (Brewvies, Family Center, Kaysville, Sandcastle, Sandy Starships, Sugar House, Valley Fair.) (June 13, 1997) - C.H.
THE SWAN PRINCESS: ESCAPE FROM CASTLE MOUNTAIN - * 1/2 - An awful, inferior sequel to the 1994 animated film "The Swan Princess," by former Disney Studios animator Richard Rich, with a handful of the original voice talents returning (but not Jack Palance, Steven Wright or John Cleese). Neither the animation, story or music (again composed by Lex de Azevedo) are up to snuff. G (some violence). (Carmike 12.) (July 20, 1997) - J.V.
TRIAL AND ERROR - * * - Slight but amusing sitcom movie with paper-thin plot - an actor (Michael Richards, of "Seinfeld") impersonates his best friend, a defense attorney (Jeff Daniels), in court. When the case unexpectedly goes to trial, he is forced to keep up the charade. Rip Torn, as the sleazy defendant, and Austin Pendleton, as the exasperated judge, get the biggest laughs. PG-13 (violence, profanity, sex, suggestive clothing). (Kaysville, Sugar House.) (May 30, 1997) - C.H.
ULEE'S GOLD - * * * 1/2 - Wonderful, low-key, quietly reflective character piece about a withdrawn, embittered Florida beekeeper (Peter Fonda) who is raising his two granddaughters in a sea of domestic turmoil. But through circumstances he can't avoid, he becomes a reluctant hero. Excellent tale of redemption from filmmaker Victor Nunez ("Ruby in Paradise"), given a tremendous boost by Fonda's career-reviving performance. R (violence, profanity, vulgarity). (Broadway, South Towne.) (June 27, 1997) - C.H.
VOLCANO - * * - Routine disaster flick, bolstered by expert special effects, has an emergency services honcho (Tommy Lee Jones) trying to come up with a way of stopping a killer lava flow after a volcanic eruption beneath Los Angeles wreaks havoc. Anne Heche and young Gaby Hoffmann co-star. PG-13 (violence, gore, profanity). (Valley Fair.) (April 25, 1997) - C.H.
*****
ONLINE
Past movie reviews and capsules by Chris Hicks and Jeff Vice are available online. Search for MOVIES.