The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current, March 03, 1998, Page 13, Image 13

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    ‘KrippendorPs Tribe’ has laughs, lacks believability
By Barb Churchill
Film Critic
“Krippendorf’s Tribe” is a funny,
but extremely unbelievable, family
comedy.
The paper-thin story purports to
tell the tale of James Krippendorf
(Richard Dreyfuss), a beleaguered
father and anthropology professor.
For the past two years, Krippendorf
has been supporting his family with a
grant intended to fund a study of the
“lost tribe of New Guinea.”
Krippendorf had intended to use the
money properly, yet had been diverted
from his purpose because of the
unforeseen death of his wife.
Of course, when it’s time to unveil
the tribe, various unrealistic circum
stances occur. First, his new research
assistant Veronica Micelli (Jenna
Elfman) decides to book a lecture
series regarding the “lost tribe,” unbe
knownst to Krippendorf. When
Krippendorf gets to the lecture site, he
panics, inventing a tribe called the
Shelmikedmu, named after his three
children Shelly, Mickey and Edmund.
The rest of the lecture goes well.
Next, Krippendorf has to invent
evidence regarding his tribal “visita
tion.” How he does this points out one
of the biggest flaws in the film: He
paints himself and his children as
tribesmen and films “native footage,”
then pulls out his state-of-the-art
“film-editing kit” and lets one of his
sons edit the film.
Granted, comedies don’t have to
be believable, but this is just too, too
much. No child of 10 would be able to
perform these sophisticated editing
tricks, much less with expensive
equipment bought ostensibly out of a
professor’s salary.
The remainder of the comedy
finds Ruth Alien (Lily Tomlin), anoth
er anthropology professor, trying to
discredit Krippendorf’s so-called
research. Most of the remaining
laughs deal with the results of Allen’s
search for the Shelmikedmu, as well
as Krippendorf’s growing sexual
attraction to Micelli.
Dreyfuss does a fine job as
Krippendorf. Although his character’s
overall situation is incredible at best, it
is possible for one to believe in his
position as a widowed father trying
desperately to bring up his three chil
dren. Without Dreyfuss’ calmness,
this film just wouldn’t be funny.
Elfman is a gifted comic actress,
yet somehow she fails to make this
role her own. Elfman attempts to por
The facts
4
Title: "Krippendorf’s Tribe’
Stare: Richard Dreyfuss, Jenna Elfman,
Lily Tomlin
Director: Todd Holland
Rating: PG-13
Grade: B
Flve Words: Unbelievable anthropology
farce is funny.
tray Micelli as another offshoot of the
dippy Dharma character from her TV
show. However, Micelli must be intel
ligent in order to be a research assis
tant, so the dippiness seems a blatant
mischaracterization. And the romance
between Elfman and Dreyfuss just
doesn’t work, as there is absolutely no
chemistry between them. This attrac
tion, if it appeared in real (rather than
reel) life would be due solely to “sex
ual wanderlust” (i.e., both are really,
REALLY hard up and have no part
ners) rather than anything else.
Tomlin is almost completely wast
ed as Allen, although she does have a
few good comedic moments.
Overall, this film has some
extremely big laughs out of the
extremely unusual situations
Krippendorf finds himself in. If you
are stressed out because of midterms
or need a few good laughs, go see this
film.
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