‘Ernest Saves Christmas’ is dumb
but perfect for younger audiences
MOVIES from Page 7_
ghosts. Murray, and everyone
around him, thinks he is going
crazy as the haunting continues.
The ghosts come, not late at night,
hut while he is in public.
David Johanson, aka Buster
Poindexter, is the stogie-chomping
cab driver Ghost of Christmas Past,
Carol Kane is the sadistic and an
gelic Ghost of Christmas Present,
and the Ghost of Christmas Future
is a nightmare from the cabinets of
Sony and Dr. Caligari.
The original story was meant to
he very sentimental, and this is a
faithful remake. The film is spiced
with Murray’s gonzo sense of
humor, but don’t expect a totally
irreverent movie.
All actors give great perform
ances. Even war veteran Robert
Mitchum’s impression of a block of
granite is believable, even funny, in
Ins role as top of the network heap.
Also worth mentioning is Bobcat
Goldthwait in something parallel to
a Bob ('ratchet character.
I ms may oea mm to last and join
the future Christmas standards list
like the 1946 classic "It’s a Wonder
ful Life” or the 1983 “A Christmas
Story." Director Richard Donner
and the writers have not just re
made “Christmas Carol," they’ve
totally updated it, claimed it for this
generation and century. W'e may
not need another version of this
story for many years to come (but
bank on several). And if you’re a
true romantic, you’ll cry.
Truest Saves Christmas" is
dumb fun It probably won’t sur
prise anyone that it is dumb, but it
also can be somew hat fun.
I’.rnesi p Worrell is a cab driver in
Orlando, Florida who happens to
pick up Santa Claus at the airport.
Santa has flown (by jet, not sled) in
to pick his successor. A girl named
Pamela, but insists her name is
Harmony Star (played by the per
•eu actress for this season, Noellc
Parker), jumps in the cab and the
plot,
I his Santa is losing his touch.
Yes, that’s right kids, after a
bundled and filly some years Santa
i' beginning to forget who wants
u hat, and only new blood can save
the magic of Christmas. The new
man is a former children’s show
host now starring in a film about
outer space aliens terrorizing chil
dren.
(.an Santa find his man, convince
him to lake the job, and get him
Marled in lime losaveChristmas?Of
course, this is a Disney picture,
despite the PG label. It was made by
Touchstone Pictures, a psuedonym
for “mature” Disney films (but with
•his picture the definition of mature
is stretched down) and was filmed
at Disney’s Florida studios, it’s
going to have a happy ending.
With the character of Pamela, an
almost grown, hardnosed disbe
liever out to grab all she can before
someone else takes it, the film
contains an element similar to
“Miracle on 34th Street," but with
Jim Varney as Ernest, the Three
Stooges live on 35th, right next to
Vern.
Optimists, sentimentalists and
dreamers may enjoy this film. Certi
fied curmudgeons should stay
home, you’ll get sick and the theater
won t have ume to clean up before
•he next show. Stay home and
staple antlers onto mice’s heads.
Not a great film, not sophisti
cated, not a lot of things. But if you
should have the responsibility of
entertaining much younger rela
tives at some lime this holiday , this
mav be a good choice of activity. If
,;u can turn your brain off for an
hour and a half, vou could do
< 'n;,. noiryn fp vr-r* -,'l Hr* '
1 he humor, all of Varney’s mug
ging into the wide-angle lens is
mostly directed at a more basic
level, but he can be funny on that
ievel, and there are a few chuckles
to be had. Varney mugs, and the
kids will enjoy that, but his imper
sonation of stars and a few sly puns
seem aimed at keeping the atten
tion of the adult guardians. Director
John Cherry targets a lot of the rest
of the action at kids but continually
throws out interesting bits for an
older crowd.
The only question left in my
mind is, what about Mrs. Claus,
where is she?
“Ernest” may not be long remem
I
bered, though it is selling out now
and will doubtlessly live on in
video. For the greatest effect, if you
feel you must, see it at a Sunday
matinee with a dozen kids talking
and barfing in the row behind you.
But “Sciooged” is deserving of a
lot of business now, and perhaps a
place in the collective memory.
"Christmas Carol” seemed to be in
danger of becoming just another
empty ritual of the holiday, and
“Scrooged” breathes some new life
through it’s new context (mankind
is even more the business of broad
casters). It may not be what you
expect, but it is very good. Feel free
to sing along at the end.
Personalize your gifts this year with a special gift
from T-Shirt Apparel. We have a large selection
of Christmas prints that look great on warm
sweatshirts. Let us can your gift in a holiday gift
can. It's a lot of fun, and the gift can be removed
with a can opener. What a great idea!
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