Change Your Image
ABU625
Reviews
The Duck Factory (1984)
Based on Jay Ward Productions
I'm surprised no one mentioned that the fictitious "Duck Factory" studio was purportedly inspired by the true-life animation studios of Jay Ward, which brought us Rocky & Bullwinkle, Mr.Peabody & Sherman, Dudley Do-Right, etc. Ward was an infamous penny-pincher who worked his staff under almost sweat-shop conditions. Although he always pleaded poverty, Ward managed to squirrel away a sizable fortune for himself. (Which is the set up for this show's pilot.) To his defense, Ward surrounded himself with some of the best writers and voice artists in the business, most of whom were thrilled to work with him. Their enduring product speaks for itself.
The Hebrew Hammer (2003)
It's "Undercover Brother" Done Yiddish
THE HEBREW HAMMER is an amusing but uneven Yiddishe version of last year's UNDERCOVER BROTHER, only instead of "The Man" being out to homogenize Black Folk, it's Santa's satanic son out to destroy Chhhhhanukah. (With an emphasis on the CHHHHHH.) Like UNDERCOVER BROTHER, the film uses 1970s blaxploitation movies as its template, but here inserts Adam Goldberg in the Eddie Griffin role, replaces Chris Kattan with Andy Dick, and substitutes Judy Greer for Aunjanue Ellis. Diminuative Tony Cox is even on hand reprising his BAD SANTA role as a foul-mouthed elf.
The humor is, predictably, based on broad enthnic and cultural stereotypes that go back 50 years as well as AIRPLANE!-like movie parodies. (Like UNDERCOVER BROTHER, HEBREW HAMMER includes an undercover ethnic organization that requires visitors to prove their authenticity by engaging in a variety of stereotypical rituals and behaviors. In HAMMER, the final test involves whining.)
The production values are nil, the story choppy, but there are moments of sick brilliance. My big question is: How many people are going to actually understand the Hebrew/Yiddish expressions and references?
This is not a film for the goyim.
The Thomas Crown Affair (1999)
Style over substance
This movie sure LOOKS good, but except for the two very clever art heists -- one in Act One, the other in Act Three -- the story is ultra-slow paced and plodding. From a story standpoint, the problem can be traced to the fact that both the lead characters -- Crown and Banning -- have figured each other out by the end of their first meeting. So where's the suspense? (Granted, there's one nice character revelation in Act Three, but it's a case of too little, too late.)
Most potential audience members will have never seen the original Steve McQueen/Faye Dunaway version, so comparisons are pointless. The real question is, does this version stand on its own terms? Yes, it stands, but its legs are very shaky. It's yet one more example of style over substance.
The Blair Witch Project (1999)
Suspensful, but not truly scary
One has to admire the inventiveness -- and the box office success -- of this tidy little horror film, but do NOT see this mini-opus expecting to see the "scariest movie of all time." The movie is suspenseful, yes. Chilling, undoubtedly. But there's not one true "scream" moment in the entire movie. You know, like when the shark's head first pops up behind Roy Scheider in "JAWS." Or when Sissy Spacek's hand explodes out of her grave to grab Amy Irving in "CARRIE." Or even when Linda Blair first vomits on Jason Miller in "THE EXORCIST." Now THOSE were classic moments of terror. "BLAIR WITCH" is far more subtle and than that -- and as a result significantly less effective on a purely visceral level.