Two Summer Reviews
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
MOM AND DAD SAVE THE WORLD
Two film reviews by Frank Maloney
Copyright 1992 Frank Maloney
The following are not full-scale reviews per se, but rather short notices of two films I've seen recently: BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER and MOM AND DAD SAVE THE WORLD.
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BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER was directed by Fran Rubel Kazui, from a script by Joss Whedon, and stars Kristy Swanson, Donald Sutherland, Paul Rubens, Rutger Hauer, and Luke Perry. Kazui (TOKYO POP) has given us a occult black comedy on a shoestring budget -- only one of the points of contrast with DEATH BECOMES HER, which opened the same weekend. Since there was no money for the usual f/x hijinks we associate with vampire movies in general, Kazui concentrates on his characters' comic possibilities. The result is spotty at best, but BUFFY has its moments and the overall effect is charming to viewers who approach it with a minimum of expectations. Swanson has the valley girl thing down, even if the whole phenomenon is ten years out of date. But still she's energetic and gives it her all. Donald Sutherland as her mentor is probably walking through the part and cashing his check before it bounces; but it is always good to see Sutherland on the screen even in a walk-through. Rutger Hauer did not strike me as a very sinister head vampire. However, Paul Rubens as his go-fer was slightly wonderful, probably the best thing about this flick; I appreciated the fact that he was made up to look like his mug shot, and his death scene was amusingly drawn out and tentative. On the other hand Luke Perry pretty much proved he had better be investing his TV salary, because he has a very limited future in the movies; he was utterly flat and without screen presence, something Swanson had in abundance.
In the words of "The Hitchhiker's Guide," BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER is mostly harmless, a no-brainer kind of mid-afternoon retreat to a cheap matinee from the harsh reality of August. Or better yet, rent the video next winter. It will warm your cockles a little.
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MOM AND DAD SAVE THE WORLD was directed by Greg Beeman, from a script by Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon, and starred Teri Garr, Jeffrey Jones, and Jon Lovitz, with Wally Shawn, the late Thalmus Rasalala, Dwier Brown, and Kathy Ireland; it is rated PG.
This is another mostly harmless, brainless confection that wins through with energy, determination, and good will. The set and costumes are heavily retro, equally influenced by BRAZIL and ROAD WARRIOR and THE WIZARD OF OZ, by Las Vegas and Bugsy Siegal, by Antonio Gaudi and Dr. Seuss and Liberace. The effect is the kind of campiness that is easy to take and easy to forget later on in the day. It makes a few mistakes -- the fish women and dog men are particularly ill-advised -- but the casting of Garr and Jones as the title characters was inspired. It is they who save the movie, as much as the World. They are cheerful and dynamic and infectious in their willingness to cooperate with the silly proceedings. Wally Shawn has a small part as a kindly torturer, Rasafala looks properly uncomfortable, Jon Lovitz is much funnier in A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN, Dwier Brown and Kathy Ireland easy on the eyes in their skimpy outfits that match their mentalities (actually, Brown was thoroughly funny while being dense in an almost Pythonesque way), and there is an uncredited cameo of some note (see the spoiler at the bottom for the identity of the mystery guest).
This is another candidate for a cheap matinee or for video viewing later on this year. I think some of you may be gently entertained; I was.
SPOILER ALERT.
The cameo appearance was by Bill Murray officiating at the wedding. A rather funny little role, made funnier by a hair-do right out Munchkinland.
-- Frank Richard Aloysius Jude Maloney
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