STAY TUNED
A film review by Ken Johnson
Copyright 1992 Ken Johnson
90 min., PG, Comedy, 1992
Director: Peter Hayanas
Cast: John Ritter, Pam Dawber, Jeffrey Jones, Eugene Levy, Don Calfa,
Salt-n-Pepper
John Ritter is a tv-aholic. Salesman Jeffrey Jones shows up at Ritter's door one night and lets him have a free trial of a satellite disk. The disk eats Ritter and his wife, Pam Dawber. They end up in a television world, where if they survive for 24 hours, they get sent back to their house.
STAY TUNED is a very funny comedy, that makes up for Ritter's last two mega-bombs PROBLEM CHILD and PROBLEM CHILD 2. I recommend this film to any fan of slapstick comedy or any movie buff. On a scale of zero to five, I give STAY TUNED a four. STAY TUNED is rated PG for adult situations.
I think the thing I disliked the most about this film was the beginning credits. They tried to make fun of the opening credits of some action and science fiction films. I think that they could have been better. The beginning of the end credits was cute though. The names of upcoming television shows, like "Unmarried with Children" (one of the lamer ones), are put on the screen, so you may want to stick around.
Some of the humor is Mel-Brookish in nature, especially the Salt-n-Pepper video. The film was constantly amusing and often hilarious, but I doubt that it will do as well as similar films, like HOT SHOTS! and THE NAKED GUN 2 1/2: THE SMELL OF FEAR, considering some of the other films out in the theaters, like UNFORGIVEN, SINGLE WHITE FEMALE, and TWIN PEAKS: FIRE WALK WITH ME. Most likely this film will find its audience when it is released on video cassette (and laser disk). None of the film will be lost on video cassette, so if you want to wait for the video and see other current hits your viewing of the film won't be harmed.
I suggest that if you are planning to watch this film, that you try to avoid seeing any commercials for it because they spoil parts of it (e.g., "Driving Over Miss Daisy"). If you plan to see the film, I suggest that you go see it soon because it has just left the theaters in my area, and will probably be doing the same in your area soon also.
Ken J. blj@mithrandir.cs.unh.edu
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