JURY DUTY
A film review by Ben Hoffman
Copyright 1995 Ben Hoffman
When Alexander Pope, way back in the early 18th Century, used the expression "Hope springs eternal in the human breast" he may have had in mind Pauly Shore. Why anyone (in this case TriStar) would want to make a film starring Mr. Shore is a mystery. Of all the inane films I see each year, Jury Duty ranks at the top. I use the word "rank" advisedly.
The screenplay writers (Neil Tolkin, Barbara Williams and Samantha Adams) attempt to show the craziness currently involved in the hysteria of people who follow trials such as that of the O J Simpson, Heidi Fleiss and the Menendez brothers. It purports to show the media madness as well. Unfortunately the film misses its mark by a long shot.
Tommy (Pauly Short) is unemployed and unemployable when he receives a notice to report for jury duty. At the urging of his mother (Shelley Winters in a cameo role) he accepts. Before we know it he is on the jury in a murder trial and is voted jury foreman. Tommy, unlike the other jurors, is sequestered in a very posh hotel which fact makes him unwilling to have the trial end and have him sent back to his poverty home. So, despite eleven jurors favoring a verdict of "Guilty," Tommy refuses to go along; he is not going to give up his free soap and hair shampoo that readily.
There is more but I will forbear. Let us just say that the writers, the director (John Fortenberry) and sundry producers should be arrested before being allowed to make another film.
Abe Vigoda has the role of the judge. Beautiful Tia Carrere is one of the jurors.
0 bytes 4 bytes Superb 3 bytes Too good to be missed 2 bytes So so 1 byte Save your money.
Ben Hoffman
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