‘Dreamcatcher’ a disappointment

Usually good breeding counts for something. Conversely, when a

pedigree is offered and expectations are not met, the resulting let

down is an even greater disappointment. A great example of this is

“Dreamcatcher.” The film is based on a Stephen King book, directed by

Lawrence Kasdan with Morgan Freeman playing one of the principle

roles. All this promise means nothing, as “Dreamcatcher” is a

slickly-produced, standard-issue, science fiction yawn more suited to

be a television movie than a theatrical release.

Since I never read the source material, I don’t know how faithful

“Dreamcatcher” is to King’s book. However, I do know the screenplay

is the source of most of the film’s problems. The film causes a sense

of deja vu due to the plot being a questionable blend of “Alien,”

“Outbreak,” “Independence Day,” and “Men In Black.”

Basically, “Dreamcatcher” tells the story of four friends Henry

(Thomas Jane), Beaver (Jason Lee), Jonesy (Damian Lewis) and Pete

(Timothy Olyphant), who received psychic gifts in their childhood

when they rescued a seemingly retarded boy from bullies. These

psychic abilities have not brought happiness or success to the

friends, who are now adults. In addition to their special link, the

friends also take an annual trip to a remote cabin in Maine where

they hunt, drink and play cards.

While out hunting alone, Jonesy comes across a nearly frozen, lost

and disoriented man. Taking him into the cabin, Jonesy and Beaver are

disturbed by the man’s deteriorating condition, which includes

alarming indigestion. Unbeknownst to them, the man is one of many

residents in this remote area whose bodies are playing host to alien

invaders.

The cavalry arrives in the form of Col. Abraham Kurtz (Morgan

Freeman) and Capt. Owen Underhill (Tom Sizemore). Kurtz and Underhill

are members an elite offshoot of the Army dedicated to eradicating

crash-landed aliens. Like a throwback to the 1950s, all aliens in

“Dreamcatcher” are evil, violent and hideous. The special effects,

relatively good examples of current technology, are definitely not

for the squeamish.

Kasdan has directed sensitive and moving personal dramas such as

“Grand Canyon,” “The Accidental Tourist,” and “Mumford.” Kasdan has

managed to get good performances from his actors and the movie has a

high-quality feel. The director cannot really be faulted for the

film’s shortcomings, other than agreeing to work on this fatally

flawed project in the first place. I cannot recommend “Dreamcatcher”

except for the most die-hard science fiction fans. For those so

inclined, I suggest waiting for the release of “The Matrix Reloaded.”

If you do go to see “Dreamcatcher,” be prepared to think you’re in

the wrong theater as the film is preceded by an animated short “The

Last Flight of the Osiris.” The technology of this added feature is

amazingly realistic right down to goose bumps on the characters’

skin. However, the plot of “The Last Flight of the Osiris” is

maddeningly confusing and completely out of context to the following

feature.

* VAN NOVACK, 48, is the director of institutional research at

Cal State Long Beach.

‘Willard’ is a great, psychotic comedy

B-movie fans, we have a winner. “Willard” is a classic

horror/comedy flick. This is a remake of a popular 1971 horror movie

about a guy who uses his massive horde of rat friends to get revenge

on people. If you like dark comedies full of sarcastic humor, this is

your movie.

Willard Stiles is a painfully shy man whose self-esteem problems

keep him from reaching his full potential. He learns to accept and

love himself by making friends with the rats in his mom’s basement.

Is there anything more beautiful than the relationship between a man

and his rats?

Willard’s life is divided between caring for his elderly mother

and groveling in front of his tyrannical boss. Virtually everyone

tells Willard that he’s a failure; fortunately, he has lots of little

rodent friends who love him just the way he is. They’ll do anything

he asks, which is kind of empowering in a dysfunctional, psychotic

sort of way.

Crispin Glover seems at home portraying the creepy introvert

Willard. He’s got a physical presence that’s both pitiful and eerie.

Think of a cross between George McFly (“Back to the Future”) and

Norman Bates (“Psycho”). It’s not hard to believe he’d rather share

his pillow with a rat than a woman.

Jackie Burroughs and R. Lee Ermey deliver great supporting

performances as Willard’s overly needy mother and dictatorial boss.

Burroughs is hilarious as Willard’s mother. Her character is so frail

that her skin barely hangs on her bones, but she still manages to

bully Willard and crush any ounce of ego he starts to develop. Ermey

seems typecast as Willard’s loud, abusive supervisor. His character

is similar to the Marine drill sergeant he portrayed in “Full Metal

Jacket,” but is even more intense and sadistic. Burroughs’ and

Ermey’s characters are so far over the top that they’re both more

laughable than scary. To enjoy the humor you’ve got to have a fairly

high threshold for psychological trauma, but they’re both hysterical.

The Web site (www.willardmovie.com) has a bizarre clip of Crispin

Glover singing the 1972 hit, “Ben.” I’ve always thought that a song

about a young boy’s affection for a killer rat was a pretty strange

concept, but considering that Michael Jackson sang the original ...

it just doesn’t seem that shocking.

If you want to see “Willard” in a theater, you’re going to have to

hurry. I was the only person in the audience for the show I saw. This

will probably be gone from the theaters in week or so, and out on DVD

by May or June. It will be a great rental. Learning how they trained

the 500 plus live rats used in this movie will be an interesting DVD

extra.

* JIM ERWIN, 40, is a technical writer and computer trainer.

“View from the Top” charms, lacks logic

“View from the Top” is a comedy about a young woman named Donna

who comes from rural, modest beginnings. Played by Gwyneth Paltrow

(“Shakespeare in Love”), Donna has high hopes for her future. She

dreams of becoming a first class international flight attendant and

is willing to work hard and make sacrifices to ensure that her dreams

come true. Along the way she discovers love and betrayal, and finds

herself following ideals that no longer reflect her true desires.

Brazilian director Bruno Barreto tries in earnest to make cohesive

the script supplied by Eric Wald, but to no avail. Full of holes and

contrived circumstances, the film does not know what form of comedy

it’s aiming to be, and as a result, it falls into uncertainty. From

nonexistent employee positions at Big Lots to impossible security

breaches at airports, the story also makes frequent layovers into

unreality. The pace is slow and comedies should never drag as this

one does.

To their credit, the actors all attempt to make something out of

the poorly structured story. As a result, the film ends up being

sweet, yet convoluted.

Paltrow as Donna further demonstrates her ability to handle

blue-collar material in a role similar to the one she played in

“Duets.” Christina Applegate is amusing, as Donna’s insecure and

jealous friend. Candice Bergen is genteel and laid back as a Southern

charmer and renowned flight attendant turned motivational speaker and

author. Mark Ruffalo (“You Can Count On Me”) is endearing as Donna’s

love interest.

Kelly Preston and Rob Lowe, however, are surprisingly underused in

what amounts to bit parts. While ironically, Joshua Malina, the actor

who recently replaced Rob Lowe as a regular cast member of TV’s “The

West Wing,” has more screen time as a gay flight attendant. Mike

Myers, is occasionally over the top, and at times uncommonly

reserved, lending to the overall uneven feeling of this movie.

This film was made more than a year ago and was delayed in its

release due to the political climate regarding the lack of humor in

air travel after Sept. 11, 2001.

Sadly, being “dated” hampers this film’s basis in reality. It is

obvious the script is pre-Sept. 11 yet incongruously, the story seems

to be set in the present day.

“View from the Top” does supply an escape from reality and there

are occasional situation-induced laughs to be had. What the film

features, if somewhat annoying at times, is charm. Even if you don’t

enjoy the story, you might enjoy the soundtrack that spans a range of

happy hits, some related to flight, from the 70s and 80s.

It will never reach the “top” but you could “view” worse.

* RAY BUFFER, 33, is a professional singer, actor and voice-over

artist.

“View from the Top” nothing but rot

Can a small town girl realize her dreams of becoming a glamorous

international flight attendant without love getting in her way? Is

there enough Maalox in the world to prevent me from barfing when I

think about this kind of story? “View from the Top” is a very simple

romantic comedy that offers some laughs, but doesn’t actually deliver

very much as a movie.

This is the kind of unimaginative pseudo-romantic story that’s

really easy to rip to shreds; however, I know that there are people

who really enjoy these Doris Day fantasy movies. If you enjoy movies

like “Sweet Home Alabama,” then you’ll like this. If you think cheese

means individually wrapped slices of processed American cheese, this

is probably a move you’ll love. For me, the plot is saccharine and

painfully predictable; the characters are two dimensional and bland;

and the general theme of how life is lonely when you have the “View

from the Top” is a moronic cliche.

The cast includes Gwyneth Paltrow, Candice Bergan, Michael Myers

and Christina Applegate. There’s also some familiar faces making

cameo appearances including Rob Lowe. These performers are all much

better than this movie and I’m still wondering why any of them

appeared in this.

Myers carries this movie. He takes some pretty average material

and creates some really funny scenes. It’s nice to see Applegate get

roles in larger movies, but she needs to find a way to break out of

her stupid bimbo (via “Married ... With Children’s” Kelly Bundy)

typecast. Paltrow’s main function is to walk around in short skirts

looking pure and innocent. Bergan plays Paltrow’s mentor. She’s the

greatest flight attendant in history. Bergan’s character brings some

subtle humor into the movie that can fly right by you if you aren’t

paying attention.

My biggest complaint is one of my pet peeves about movies in

general. There were several scenes that I remember seeing in TV

commercials and in the trailers that were not included in the story.

For example, the T-shirt line dancing scene shown in the commercials

is just one of the outtakes shown behind the credits, it’s not

actually part of the movie. It’s not that I was desperate to see any

of those scenes, I just don’t like it when scenes featured in the

trailers aren’t part of the movie.

Throughout “View from the Top” are a lot of visual jokes related

to fashion, sweaters and hair. These kinds of things are all symptoms

of a movie being a total chick flick. Likewise, the painfully

predictable break-up/make-up romances (will they ever get back

together?) also go with that turf. When Paltrow cried I wasn’t sure

whether to say, “Awwwwwwww,” or make a sound kind of like that into

my popcorn box. The fact that Hostess Twinkies are still popular

tells me that there’s an audience for this kind of empty-headed love

story, but it’s just not my cup of tea.

* JIM ERWIN, 40, is a technical writer and computer trainer.