ohn Hughes’ film mildly amusing effort
I Mark Hain and
cky Tideman
f Reviewers__
Mark Hain: Remember way back
hose days of prepubcscence, when
in Hughes’ latest flick was a
numental and possibly life-alter
event? “This man has glimpsed
no my very soul,” murmured the
wcstruck teenage masses, their
oices cracking. “The screen has
ecome a mirror; that is me.” We all
unkered down in our seats as the
ights went up, hiding from the ushers
f wc could in a desperate attempt to
;it through another showing of ‘ ‘The
Jrcakfast Club” in rapt silence. But
iow Anthony Michael has grown out
of hisganglincss.and along; with ithis
charm; Molly Ringwald is quickly
joining the ranks of the “Where arc
they now?” club, and as the world
wearmcss and cynicism of “adult
lire turns those theater lights to full
beam John Hughes is no longer the
cure for feelings of alienation and
loneliness, only a purveyor of mildly
amusing films about the interaction
of teenagers and adults.
Becky Tideman: I also was hoping
this movie would be of the same
I . Past Hughes films, but
Uncle Buck” displayed none of the
humor or effort of Hughes’ previous
films. I feel Mr. Hughes should take
the advice so eloquently dispensed by
Steve Martin in “Planes, Trains and
Automobiles” (another Hughes film
starring John Candy).
Martin explained, “Here’s an
idea, next time you tell a story, have
a point. It makes it so much more
enjoyable for the listener.”
I think “Uncle Buck” had poten
tial. Unfortunately it turned out to be
a 90-minute exercise in mediocrity;
good TV, but not good film-making.
MH: I was expecting to be miser
able at this movie. I knew the only
way I could get to the theater to see
this film was on my bike, and just as
I hopped on my rickety love machine,
the rain began. I felt like I had been
thrown in a pool. Miraculously mak
ing it to the theater without getting
struck by lightening, I sat down in the
air-conditioned dimness. Three
teeny-bopper girls giggled mali
ciously behind me as I tried to dry my
spattered glasses. Once again I was a
shy, insecure teenager who had been
mesmerised by “Sixteen Candles.”
(I suppose you’re wondering why I’m
blathering on and on, but there’s re
ally not much to say about “Uncle
buck” without giving away the plot.)
I shivered in my clinging clothes as
the lights went down, my bangs
thrickling cold, slinging water into
my eyes. Despite it all, I had a good
time. Not a great laugh riot, and no
insight into life, but I laughed.
BT: I think I was less satisfied with
this movie than you. True, I did laugh
occasionally, but the film left no last
ing impression; it bounced right off
me. I was much more interested in
making squishy noises by wiggling
my tows about in my drenched Kcds.
The premise of the film is that the
drinking, smoking, gambling, prodi
gal uncle, Buck Russel’ is recruited
by his yuppie brother to care for his
three children while he and his wife
arc called out of town on a family
emergency. Candy and his nieces and
nephew have a series of battlc-of-the
wills confrontations, none of which
arc overly entertaining or interesting.
Basically pretty Mr. Belvedere/
Punky Brewster type stuff.
MH: I wouldn't say it was quite all
that bad. I mean, I didn’t ennge in
embarrassment or anything. I think
some of the faults of the film were
overshadowed by appealing per
formances by Candy and a surprising
cameo role by Amy Madigan. She
managed to be her earthy, personable
self and still not seem out of place in
this film. Also surprising were the
two child actors, who were both cute
and precocious without being saccha
rine and annoying. Most child actors
make me want to have a vasectomy,
but for the most part I could tolerate
these two wee ones. The same, how
ever, cannot be said for Jean Louisa
Kelly, queen of the withering stare
and icy putdown. I have a feeling that
she’s really rather a good actress, but
she manages to be so callous, that she
reminded me of every hateful teen
age shrew I’ve ever known.
BT: It was the small things that
mademe laugh in this movie; Uncle
Buck’s pride in his personalized
bowling ball, the school principal’s
face-encompassing wart, and mi
crowaved laudry in lieu of a function
ing clothes dryer (it never dawned on
Uncle Buck to hang the clothes on a
clothesline).
MH: It’s interesting that it seems
like as we’ve grown up so has John
Hughes. But now that we’re young
adults he seems to be a cynical old
man. While Hughes’ humor has in the
past been broad, bawdy and slap
sticky, it’s now rather sedate and
somewhat disconcerting. (Uncle
Buck’s delightful giant pancake does
not make up for his creepy, unsettling
serial-killer imitations.) Hughes
seemed tired and bored. About the
only interesting technique he used
was a fish-eye lens in shooting
Marcy, the neighbor woman in tore
ador pants who comes over to rumba
with Buck. There is a sense that this
film is a half-hearted effort for almost
everyone involved. Since all of them
didn’t seem to care much, I guess we
can’t cither.
Nationally known comedians help comedy club celebrate
by iireicnen noenr
Senior Reporter
Noodles Comedy Club celebrates
its one-year anniversary Sunday
night with nationally known comedi
ans.
The three-hour show is called
“The Best of Noodles” and features
Scott Nivotny of Minneapolis, Willie
Farrell of Des Moines, Iowa, Craig
Peters of Los Angeles and Thor
Ramsey of Colorado.
Bobby “Red” Tolnai of Lincoln
will serve as the master of ceremo
nies for Sunday night's show.
Tony Coe, manager of the comedy
club, said Sunday night's show will
bring together comedians with vari
ous styles of humor.
rarreii and Nivotny, who arc con
sidered headliners for the show, have
made appearances at Noodles before,
Coe said.
Nivotny has appeared on
“Showtime’s Funniest Person in
America’’ and Farrell’s television
credit includes the Playboy Channel,
Johnson said.
Ramsey has been on HBO,
Showtime and “The Arscnio Hall
Show.’’ Peters also has appeared on
Showtime.
Coe said the show already is
booked.
“This is going to be a great
show,” Johnson said. “We just
wanted to celebrate our anniversary
and thank everyone who’s supported
Noodles this year.”
Mark Johnson, general manager,
said Noodles will serve free cham
pagne and cake.
Noodles opened Sept 8, 1988,
Coe said.
“When wc first opened wc were
unsure if Lincoln would be receptive
to comedy,” Coe said, “but we’ve
been overwhelmed by customers.”
Friday through Sunday, Noodles
will feature Farrell, Jeff Sutherland
of Minneapolis and Tolnai.
The show that runs Sept. 7 through
9 features Jent Monk of Sioux City,
Iowa, and Ted Lyde of Chicago.
Reservations arc highly recom
mended.
FOR SALE
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Furnishing an apartment? Great garage sales. 2800
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LPO NOTICE OF SALE
ON UNCLAIMED BICYCLES
Sept 14. 6:30p.m. Al Lincoln Land Towing. 410 West P
Street, by Properly Division. No Checks Accepted.
Salesman Sample Sale: Book bags. Briel cases. S.A.
Knives. Chamoua Shirts. Como clothing, sleeping begs,
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Small, apartment refrigerator with freezer. Approxi
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YAMAHA PSR-90 keyboard w/stand $ carry case. Buik
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Good, used furnSure for sale to help students furneh
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Birthday sale!
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S $11.99 Compact Discs
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sale ends RECORDS TAPES. COMPACT DISCS
Sunday 17th & P • 237 S 70th *3814 Normal
and three locations in Omaha
