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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (July 19, 1990)
Arts & Entertainment Film lacks coherent script, bores audience By John Payne Senior Editor These days, everyone seems to have something to say about comedian Andrew “Dice” Clay-usually all bad. About as endearing as a jock itch, Clay’s standup routine has recently become a very popular target for the media, as well as fellow comedians. -• While the masses argue whether his ethnic slurs, gay-basning and verbal assaults of women will somehow do irreparable harm to American values, Clay has steam rolled his way to popu larity. With his first starring role in “The Adventures of Ford Fairlane,” the Diceman has truly cometh, and it looks like all this attention may never gocth. Playing Ford Fairlane doesn’t seem to be much of a stretch for Clay. The “rock and and roll detective,” so named for his success as a music industry private investigator, is pretty much a walking collection of Clay’s stand-up humor. Case in point: As two young women leave his apart ment the morning after a menage a trois, a hung-over Fairlane utters those three heartfelt words, “Do my dishes.” That’s about as much sensitivity as anybody gels from Fairlane, a Jimi Hendrix worshiper and in many ways a throwback to the gumshoes of the 30s and 40s. Set in the trendy nightclubs of Los Angeles, this action/comcdy follows the brash detective as he pursues a bubble-headed young rock groupie named Zuzu Petals (Maddie Corman). Zuzu, it seems, may have informa tion about the on-stage death of heavy metal singer Bobby Black (Motley Crue’s Vince Neil). Gilbert Gottfried plays L.A. shockjock Johnny Crunch, Who hires his old friend Fairlane to find the girl, who he claims is his daughter. Fairlane has only begun his search when a wealthy businesswoman (Priscilla Presley) also asks him to Find the girl. Black’s death appears to be con nected to Zuzu and a sophisticated embezzlement scheme cooked up by an evil recording executive (Wayne Newton). That’s what Fairlane sets out to uncover, but along the way he runs into everything from car bombs to a homy corpse. The set-up is simple enough, but as the story develops, things become so muddled and confused that it takes a last-minute explanation from New ton to clue audiences in as to exactly whathas transpired. Itmust have been obvious to its screenwriters that their plot was bound to confuse audiences, so they slapped on a tidy little sum mary to fix the problem. A coherent screenplay would have been better. Cameo appearances by MTV’s Curt Loder and rapper Tone Loc arc good for a few laughs, but even “Fairlane’s” constant sendup of the the recording business can’t save the movie from its all-too-frequent doldrums. Often times. Clay is given nothing to do but stand around repeating the same one liners. Surprisingly enough, what keeps “Ford Fairlanc’’ from being a truly funny romp through the music busi ness is not Clay’s abrasive character. but rather the film’s slow pace. James Cappe’s screenplay simply hasn’t given the Diceman ample “adventure” to keep audiences interested. ‘ ‘The Adventures of Ford Fairlane’ ’ is playing at the Cinema 1 &2,201 N. 13th St. The magic is back in Lincoln this week, as Magic Slim and I ' the Teardrops return. ’ Courtesy of 20th Century Fo< Andrew “Dice” Clay (left) playsthe title role in “The Adventures of Ford Fairlane,” also starring Wavne Newton and Lauren Holly. Entertainment ottered By Bryan Peterson Staff Reporter Here follows a list of arts and en tertainment events in the Lincoln area for today through Wednesday. ART The * ‘Gordon Cook: Twenty Etch ings” exhibition will continue through Aug. 12 at the Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery. Paintings from UNL art instructor Pat Rowan’s “Non-Flag” Series will be shown at the Hay market Art Gal lery through July 29. COMEDY Los Angeles comedian Jason Stuart will perform at Funny Bone July 25 29. Stuart has appeared in several television shows, and films such as the Martin Short movie “Cross My Heart.” Stuart will complete a mid western tour before going back to Los Angeles to film the comedy ‘ ‘ Kinder garten Cop” with Arnold Sch warzenegger. DRAMA The musical “Jesus Christ Super star” will be performed in the Pine wood Bowl in Pioneers P^k Jijly 3$;. 30wima r&itvflate sthedtifed for My • 31. The outdoor performances begin at 8:30 p.m. and cost $3 in advance or $4 at the door. “And A Nightingale Sang” will close its run at the Johnny Carson Theater with performances today, tomorrow and Saturday. Tickets to the “bittersweet comedy,” which is directed by John Pynchon Holmes, range from $12 to $15. “Telling Tales Again, Sam?” and “Stone Soup” will be performed at the Lincoln Community Playhouse tomorrow. Both plays will be pre sented at 2 p.m. and again at 7:30 D.rn. The plays will culminate a two week theater study program for 10- to 15-year-olds, The Theatre Arts Acad emy. Each performance lasts 90 minutes and costs $2. FILM “Spices,” a 1987 multi-award winning Indian film, will play at the Sheldon Film Theater today through Sunday at 7 and 9.15 p.m. with week end matinees. “Spices” is the tale of oppression in the decade before India gained its independence. Historic Film clips from Nebraska’s past will be shown at noon today at the Museum of Nebraska History. The clips have been selected from over 700,(XX) feet of footage in the soci ety’s collection and will be shown free of charge. MUSIC Among othC{ Uncoln Mpc#ranc<ft this week, Magrc Shm and the Tear ' drops will open the Jazz, Blues & Barbecue” festival at 4:30 p.m. to morrow. The Food Bank of Lincoln will benefit from the festival, at 12th and O streets. Before8 p.m.,admission is $1 ora donation of two cans of food. After 8, admission will be $3. Also perform ing will be the Nebraska Jazz Quintet at 6:30 and 7:15 p.m., and the Bon ton Soul Accordian Band at 8:30 p.m. Magic Slim and the Teardrops will continue a weeklong run at the Zoo Bar today through Saturday, return ing the “dynamite southsidc blues” sound to Lincoln once again. Cover is S3 today and $4 tomorrow and Satur day. i ms week me £oo also win fea ture: The Tablcrockers on Monday for $2, Daddy Squeeze and the Doc tor on Tuesday for S1, and fhe reggae sounds of Shiloh on Wednesday for $4. Harry Connick, Jr. will appear at Omaha’s Music Hall on Sunday. The evening of jazz can be had for S20.75. UNL student discounts do not seem likely. RADIO KUCV, Lincoln’s classical music station, will hold a Summer Mini Membership Drive July 26-29. Pledges will be taken to support KUCV and the Nebraska Public Radio Network. “The Thistle and Shamrock,” a program of “ballads, bagpipes and ” ’ ” • ■' ’'SUMMER f fc •
