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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (March 19, 1984)
Daily Hcbrcskcn Monday, Uzmh 19, 1C34 I n V 'III'1 ( M M - f I A M W- o n -1 o -p o 6. 7 J 7T T rl I t i I i v i i - t i I I ' ) 1 1 1 1 By Ward W. Triplet! III Pcga 10 Splash is almost a very good movie. But a curious reluctance on the part of the filmmakers and the lead actor to explore the potential comedy angles of this mermaid tale leaves it doglapping in a stream of forgettable television-type banality. Splash is the story of one man's search for the perfect mate. Common enough theme, but when Allen Bauer finds his true love, she doesn't speak English, can't understand American customs (like clothing), and can only communicate through kisses. Of course, the girl is the mermaid. She and Bauer had met 20 years before when he accidentally fell over board during a vacation cruise. The mermaid, Film Review whose crimson fins turn into legs in the air, finds Bauer after an unfortunate incident at the Statue of Liberty and learns language from watching six hours of television at Bloomingdale's. The mermaid picks up the name Madison and she and Allen are nearing the verge of marriage when the story plot comes into play with the arrival of a man of science (Eugene Levy). He sees Madison underwater and won't rest until he can prove to the scientific world she is who he says she is. This, plus the fact that Allen doesn't know Madison is a mermaid and has to return to the water in six "fun filled" days, give Splash its only plot complications. As light-hearted comedies go, the idea behind Splash should carry it to some degree of success. After all, didn't Love at First Bite, the vampire spoof with George Hamilson, generate great box office figures? But in that original idea, Hamilton exploited the vampire myths and spoofs to hilarity. Splash while it has some very clever and funny scenes, holds back from ever reaching the all-out laughs point, as if the filmmakers wanted to keep a foot in reality. That would be fine most of the time, but it slows and stiffens Splash. The main reasons for this are Tom Hanks, who plays Bauer, and director Ron Howard. Hanks, who might be remembered from the ABC comedy Bosom Buddies, plays the straight Bauer too straight. He always seems to be at a distance from the comedy material, and fails to really give off any charisma, charm or comedy spontaneity. Howard contributes to the problem by letting the film look too much like a Ill-minute television sit com. This isn't a surprise since Hanks, Howard, producer Brian Grazer and screenwriters Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mendel earned much of their it ' ' 1 i t 11 V' ; A Luena Vista Distribution Co., Inc. Tom Hanks and Daryl Hannah star in Eon Howard's Splash. Vhe film is currently showing at the Plaza 4, 12th and P streets. credit in television. It isn't as obvious in Splash as it was in Howard's last movie Night Shift but the television mentality (a perpetually nice guy, a dumb creep with dumbo friends), predictable story twists and improbable running gags, are still there. On the positive side, there's John Candy as Hanks' con-man but swell-guy big brother, and Daryl Hannah as Madison who is obviously having fun from the time she swims out to find Bauer to when she's squealing her aquatic name in Dloomingd Hanks has some good lines too, but they seem to come only when Candy is around to set them up. And, the underwater shots are great. I'd hate to seem like I'm knocking Splash around, for it is a nice little film obviously made to just cause some smiles. Hut Splash has enough good things going for it that you know it could have, and should have, been much better. 1 V! rZ Ccjney and Laccy, a television drama about two women police cCcers, will get a second chance at life beinnir.3 at 0 p.ra. on Channels 6 and 1 0. The show, which received a great deal of critical praise during it s short run, was taken off the air at the end' cf.r;t summer. However, audience outrage, coupled with hih Neilsen ratings at the end of the season, facilitated the show's return. Sharon Gless and TVne Ati1r TTi!! The third annual Flute Feast will be held at 8 p.m. today in the Recital Hall. The program features local high school flautists, as well as participants from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Union College and UNL. There is no admission charge. At the Sheldon Andrew Sarris, film critic for the Village Voice, will give a special lecture on Rainer Werner Fass binder's Berlin Alexanderplatz today at 7 p.m. in the Film Theatre. Sarris' talk will be accompanied by a documentary on the making of Alexanderplatz. Also, there will be a panel discussion with Sarris and UNL professors June Levine, Peter Reinkordt and Robert Shirer. There is no admission charge. Kxtioi.it lit itLvivwa f ttiXLt r rr v i t -ft V- W-J . i iJi X Vi 4 Streets, a f ssr cteisfcsr reel: tsni recc rZz fcr Atlr.t Iz Eeceris, p IzyeS a ct r. cert In Iiriccla tth weekend tt the T.zyzl Grove, CIO T7. CcrzhnzlzzT. TI:e crczp3 IzzZzi Ctzvz (atsve) wss I Yes,-: its . ten to blood! American V" "AlClRjEj TFTh L ID i sJiii5 ZWl ill' jij.fi :0 n:6TTsT i I tT7hTf -iFTjpfs UlML" Wr ipWs JILL T!s uo'f " OjHit TC T TWTTj N :A 10 ' mB'JI 'SEl 'XFJoTn IIH"1;-. H-J'ylt 1984 SR Alpine Sort 12 tpwd, 23", 26 lbs. Priced to sell. Many extras. 4S4-4434. ' Gold loveseat couch, lair condition, make offer. 474-3523. Moving Must Sell 25" color console, chests, dressers, end and coffee tobies, student desks, hanging and table lamps, green recliner , bookshelves, kitchen lafcie. 463252. KING SIZE WATERBED. FRAME, HEATER, SHEETS. $130,475-2044. 2 Billy Joel concert tickets floor seats. $iO for the pair. 472-6842. J T?-Tam8h4 750 Special. Must Sell. 1 -