"Three Men sequel predictable, likable comedy
By Julie Naughton
Senior Reporter
“Three Men and A Little Lady,”
the follow-up film to the hit “Three
Men and A Baby,” is a good, old
fashioned, no-brains-required com
edy. More affable and likable than
the first film (a rarity for sequels),
“Three Men and A Little Lady” makes
no bones about what it is, a mostly
onedimensional, sitcomish film,
which adds to its considerable charm.
The film’s opening shots show
Mary, the “baby” of the first film and
the “little lady” of this film, from
babyhood to her present age. These
scenes are shot in fast-forward and
bring the audience up to date with
Mary (Robin Weisman) and the horde
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she lives with.
Among the horde are Jack (Ted
Danson), a slightly narcissistic actor
and Mary’s biological father; Peter
(Tom Selleck), a shy, hands-off-me
architect; Michael (Steve Guttenberg),
a likeable political cartoonist; and
Mary's mother, Sylvia (Nancy Travis),
a confused actress.
Although it’s obvious from the
beginning how this comedy will end
up, director Emile (“Chances Are”)
Ardolino feels the need to drag the
audience through a near-miss situ
ation, the near-marriage of Sylvia to a
completely obnoxious, two-faced
British producer named Edward
(Christopher Cazenove).
However, it’s evident to the audi
ence that Syivia will marry Daddy X,
whom she’s always been in love with
and whom Mary loves best. But even
through the British mess, the com
edy’s charming style keeps the audi
ence’s interest.
There are wonderful comcdic
moments in this film. For instance,
when Jack, Peter and Michael sing
Mary to sleep with a rap lullaby called
“The Marriage Rap,” the audience
erupted into hysterical laughter.
The ending is predictable, down to
when Daddy X proclaims his love for
Sylvia. His speech is nearly identical
to Billy Crystal’s “Why I love you”
speech to Meg Ryan in “When Harry
Met Sally” ...
Rni what is contained between the
light beginning and predictable end is
about two hours of carefree, enjoy
able comedy.
Weisman, as Mary, is fresh and
appealing, unlike many other big
screen tots of late. Weisman carries
off the character with grace and charm,
beguiling the audience with her love
for her “three daddies” and her mother.
“Three Men and A Little Lady’s”
probable success most likely will be
largely due to the casting of the tal
ented Weisman as Mary. With an
unappealing child or a brat as Mary,
this film easily could have fallen on
its face.
Selleck, rebounding from his re
cent stinker, “Quigley Down Under,
is his usual charismatic self in this
film. His Gary Cooper-I-don’t-talk
much manner, though sometimes
annoying, works well in this film.
The only villain of the film, the
smarmy Edward, is carried off well
by Cazenove. Cazenove, perhaps best
known for his role on the nighttime
soap “Dynasty,” is theevil stepfather,
intent on sending little Mary off to
Pileforth Academy for Young Women,
a weird English boarding school. He
gets his — thank goodness — at the
end.
Travis, as Sylvia, is somewhat
wishy-washy about the man she wants
to spend her life with. Is it him, or him
... she keeps agonizing. The love
Travis portrays for her film daughter
is refreshing, however.
Guttenberg and Danson also turn
in well-done performances.
This film actually is less fairy
talish than the original; “Three Men
and A Baby” was about finding a cute
baby on a doorstep. “Three Men and
A Little Lady” is about what happens
after that cute little baby grows up. It
shows realities of raising children,
the day-to-day fights, different fam
ily situations
Don’t go to this film expecting it
to be a sequel to “The Unbearable
Lightness of Being.” Just enjoy the
uncomplicated two hours of comedy
it provides.
“Three Men and A Little Lady” is
playing at the Douglas 3 Theatre,
1300 P St.
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Brian Shellito/Dally Nebraskan
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Continued from Page 12
old U.S. of A. She manages lo gel
back to Scranton, Pa., but has troub
les getting to Chicago.
One of the film’s most hilarious
moments comes when she hitches a
ride from Scranton to Chicago in the
back of a Budget Rcnt-a-Truck. She
shares it with the pride of Sheboygan,
Wis.: Gus and His Polka Band. This
sets up the comedy between Gus (John
Candy, in a riotous cameo) and Mom.
Mom spends the rest of the film
trying to get home, while Kevin spends
the rest of the film trying to make sure
there will be a home to return to
One of the most pleasant perform
ances in this melee is turned in by
Emmy-award winning writer O’Hara.
O’Hara, co-creator of the show
“SCTV” and a co-star in one of sum
mer 1990's most charming films,
"Betsy’s Wedding,” is thoroughly
realistic as Kevin’s frantic mother.
1 Culkin, as Kevin, is an adorable
Bkid, but completely obnoxious.
However, Hughes' script is so full of
sight gags that the poor kid isn t given
a chance to do anything except set up
the violence against the burglars.
Heard, perhaps best-known to the
general public as Bette Midler’s hus
band in “Beaches,” is extremely laid
back in this role. His character barely
even gets ruffled when he realizes
that his youngest kid is home alone in
the Chicago suburbs. Even if his
character hated the kid, a real parent
probably would have shown a little
more emotion when he realized his
kid was alone.
And Pesci, a burglar who looks
and acts like the Grinch who stole
Christmas, is a real treat. His charac
ter isn’t exactly a nice guy, but the
character is a far cry from the evil
gangster of “GoodFellas ”
Despite all this, “Home Alone” is
not a horrible film. It’s a good take
your-kids-to-the-movies-at-Christmas
time film, devoid of bad language,
guts and gore. However, it isn’t des
tined to become a classic, so don’t
forget the real classics—“Miracle on
34th Street” and “It’s a Wonderful
Life” — this holiday season.
“Home Alone” is playing at the
Douglas 3 Theatre, 1300 P Street.
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