`Excess Baggage” (PG-13) is about a poor little rich girl who fakes her own abduction. But the troubled first film from Alicia Silverstone’s First Kiss production company can’t decide if it wants to be a dark or a light comedy.
As the scheming heiress and the car thief who kidnaps her by mistake, Silverstone and Benecio del Toro make a rather dim, unappetizing pair. Besides a listless script and del Toro’s odd mumbled turn, there’s violence, booze-guzzling and sex-related talk.
Alicia pouts, drinks, kicks del Toro in the groin and smokes like a refinery fire. A good-looking film, artfully shot, it’s only for die-hard Silverstone fans.
“Air Bud” (PG) — He’s got a serious nose for the ball — a cold, wet one, to be exact. Air Bud, the lighthearted story of a boy and his hoops-shooting dog, should be a hit with children and parents alike. The basketball scenes are loads of fun. And aside from a little canine mayhem and an unsavory rent-a-clown (played by Michael Jeter), there’s little here to set off parental alarms.
“Air Force One” (R) — Russian terrorists led by Gary Oldman hijack the plane of the U.S. president (Harrison Ford), who is on board with his wife, daughter and important staff members. Special effects set this thrilling, action-adventure movie apart from similar films, but language and violence earn it its rating.
“Contact” (PG) — The story of an astronomer who hears signals from a life form in a distant star will intrigue young viewers fascinated with science and space exploration. But its deliberate pacing will derail some audiences.
“Cop Land” (R) — Sylvester Stallone plays Freddy, a sheriff in a New Jersey suburb full of tough New York City cops who witnesses some unscrupulous behavior. He soon resorts to taking the law into his own hands.
“Dirty Dancing” (PG-13) — In this funny, touching musical/love story set in the Catskills in 1963, a bright, middle-class, 17-year-old falls for a hunky dance instructor from the wrong side of the tracks. The rating is for language and a lot of sensual dancing.
“Event Horizon” (R) — In the year 2047, a rescue mission sets out to find a space vessel named Event Horizon that disappeared seven years earlier. When rescue crew members board the ship they find that the crew is dead and a strange presence inhabits the ship. Language, gruesome violence, scenes of sadistic torture and nudity make this film best for adults only.
“Face/Off” (R) — Because of co-stars Nicolas Cage and John Travolta, teens and younger kids may want to see it, but this movie definitely earns the adults-only rating. The action, violence, villain and everything else are over the top.
“Free Willy 3” (PG) — Kids get to see their own kind make good in this whale of a sequel. While the plot is a tad thin, the characters manage to express anger and frustration without profanity, and the violence is held to a bare minimum. The moral of the story is obvious from the start, and no one gets hurt in the end. Not even the whalers.
“George of the Jungle” (PG) — It’s not a comic masterpiece, but it’s a broad and funny live-action update of the animated television show. The rating is for some mild expletives and bathroom humor.
“G.I. Jane” (R) — Navy Intelligence officer Lt. Jordan O’Neil (Demi Moore) is recruited by Sen. Lillian DeHaven (Anne Bancroft) as a test case to train for the Navy SEALs. This is by far one of the best movie depictions of a woman undergoing military training. Adult situations, dialogue and action make it for mature audiences only.
“Good Burger” (PG) — Teenage comedy duo Kenan and Kel must save their burger joint from going out of business when threatened by evil competitors across the street. As the obtuse Ed, Kel is the real draw for kids. He’s so dippy he’s hilarious. The rest of the action and the star-studded cameos by Sinbad and Shaquille O’Neal don’t amount to much.
“Hercules” (G) — Disney’s 35th big-screen ‘toon plays like a breeze after the pretentions of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” and the self-conscious sincerity of “Pocahontas.” The movie plays fast and loose with Greek mythology, and the score lacks a song of evergreen appeal, but its popularity is assured.
“Hoodlum” (R) — 1930s Harlem hoodlum Ellsworth “Bumpy” Johnson (Laurence Fishburne) returns from prison to find gangster Dutch Schultz (Tim Roth) trying to take over the area’s numbers racket. When Johnson joins up with Lucky Luciano (Andy Garcia), a turf battle with Schultz erupts that costs the lives of Johnson’s closest friends and the woman he loves (Vanessa Williams). Lots of offensive language.
“Julian Po” (PG-13) — Young people won’t find much to enjoy in this weak effort at absurdity in a small town, but that’s not because it will go over their heads. Adults will dislike it for the same reasons: Christian Slater’s stiff acting and the director’s bumpkin stereotyping.
“Jungle 2 Jungle” (PG) — Tim Allen stars in this remake of the recent French bomb “Little Indian, Big City,” but he displays none of the charm of his previous film work (“The Santa Clause” and “Toy Story”) or his hit TV series, “Home Improvement.” In “Jungle,” Allen brings the 13-year-old son he never knew he had from a South American jungle village to New York.
“Kull the Conqueror” (PG-13) — Kevin Sorbo has his first starring role on the big screen.Officially, the rating is for fantasy-action violence and sensuality. There’s profanity, fighting and sex. Its cartoonlike mayhem probably won’t faze older kids, but it’s much too violent for small fry. Adults will appreciate the sly humor.
“Leave it to Beaver” (PG) — Not as charming as the original TV show, this film focuses on how far a kid will go to curry his dad’s favor to get a new bicycle. There’s unnecessary fun made of obese Larry Mondello.
“Masterminds” (PG-13) — Whiz kid comes to the rescue when a security expert holds a school full of students hostage. The rating is for language and suggested endangerment of children.
“Men in Black” (PG-13) — Young moviegoers, as well as older ones, should have a blast at this movie. The only disappointed viewers will be those who expect exhilarating outer-space scenes. The film contains comic-book-style violence, a few fleeting moments of gore and occasionally feisty language.
“Money Talks” (R) — A con man gets caught in the act by a TV newsman and is sent to prison. When the bus transporting him blows up, he escapes, turning to the newsman for protection. Adult humor and situations.
“My Best Friend’s Wedding” (PG-13) — Audiences of all ages and genders should enjoy at least parts of this comedy. Julia Roberts plays a mean-spirited writer trying to break up her friend’s wedding.
“Picture Perfect” (PG-13) — Die-hard “Friends” fans will comprise the most appreciative audience for this often listless comedy about a career-driven woman (Jennifer Aniston) who invents a fiance. Contains some language and mild sexual innuendo.
“The Sixth Man” (PG-13) — College basketball star Antoine Tyler (Kadeem Hardison) is about to realize his dream of making it to the NCAA championships when he dies of heart failure. Language, crude dialogue and jokes, adult issues about the grieving process, death.
“Spawn” (PG-13) — Todd McFarlane’s dark anti-hero steps up to the big screen for live-action adventure, building on successful comic books and animated TV incarnations. The movie is toned down to get the PG-13 rating, but it still has a lot of violence that may not be suitable for younger children.
“Steel” (PG-13) — Seen “Spawn” or “Batman”? The amply violent “Steel” feels diluted by comparison. Lovable goof Shaquille O’Neal plays military scientist John Henry, who adopts the alter ego of “Steel” when the new weaponry he creates falls into the wrong hands. Confusing messages about violence.
“Ulee’s Gold” (R) — Peter Fonda is a reclusive beekeeper struggling to make ends meet while taking care of his two granddaughters. He gets more than he bargained for when he brings the girls’ drug-addicted mother home to live with them. The sweet, simple story might be healing for those who have had family problems.
