|
|
|
|
||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|||||
 |
 |
|
The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle by Stephen Farber No doubt the people behind Rocky and Bullwinkle had visions of Roger Rabbit dancing in their heads; at one point there's even a little in-joke about the earlier movie that mixed animation and live action. But whereas Roger Rabbit seemed impudent and racy, this new film is a leaden bore. It's difficult to imagine what inspired the producers to revive the cartoon characters who charmed TV audiences back in the '60s. Their movie is set in the present, when the flying squirrel and the dimwitted moose are called out of retirement to stop Fearless Leader (Robert De Niro), Boris (Jason Alexander) and Natasha (Rene Russo) in their latest scheme to take over the world. These three veteran thespians have thankless one-dimensional roles (even for a cartoon), and they're quickly reduced to mugging and screeching. PAGE 1 | 2 |
 |
|
|
Screenwriter Kenneth Lonergan has done good work in the theater, and he provided the tasty premise for last year's Analyze This. Despite a few clever jokes here, but he hasn't been able to provide a strong enough narrative to keep us from snoozing. Lonergan doesn't get much help from another theater refugee, director Des McAnuff, who fails to provide the nimble touch that fantasy requires. It's even more difficult to imagine an audience for this misconceived mess. The jokes about the movie business will go over the heads of children, and these gags aren't sharp or scintillating enough to capture the imagination of adults. Another new family film, Chicken Run, does a far better job of striking a balance between juvenile buffoonery and more sophisticated satire. Those who have fond memories of "Rocky and Bullwinkle" will be sorely disappointed. While the studio honchos may have hoped to start a new franchise built around these two lovable critters, they're going to find themselves saddled with a less appealing varmint--a turkey hemorrhaging red ink. What did you think of this movie? Sound off in the Movie Forum. PAGE 1 | 2 |
|
|
| home | forum | this month | reviews archive | features archive | back issues | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 © 2003 Movieline.com |
 |