Every summer a shamelessly silly movie manages to elicit more chuckles than it probably deserves, only this year's qualifier showed up after Labor Day. Welcome Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star, a raffish comedy starring Spade (see page 79) as a Hollywood has-been longing for his '70s glory days, when he was the kid cut-up on a hit sitcom. (His trademark laughline was "That's nucking futs.") Now, hoping to have the childhood he missed, he pays a family to let him live with them for a month.
One doesn't want to oversell Dickie, but there's fun to be had here. The film especially scores with its jaundiced view of showbiz (Dickie plays poker with fellow where-are-they-nows Leif Garrett, Danny Bonaduce and Corey Feldman) and Dickie having the hots for his host mom (McCormack). And there's a nifty bit at the end where a roomful of ex-child and teen TV stars (including Dallas's Charlene Tilton) sing an amusing anthem about their pitiful plight. (PG-13) BOTTOM LINE: Better than you'd expect
•Jeepers Creepers 2 The first Jeepers was nothing special as horror films go, and this sequel is more of the same as an evil winged creature with rotting teeth returns to pursue fraidycat teen athletes and cheerleaders returning from a big game. (R)
•Once Upon a Time in the Midlands
Though it boasts a contemporary setting, a quirky, British domestic comedy derives its humor by lampooning classic Westerns. A small-time hood (Robert Carlyle)—who abandoned his wife (Shirley Henderson) years ago—returns to a working-class suburb to win her back from the milquetoast garage owner (Rhys Ifans) with whom she has been living. (R)
•Party Monster Seth Green, in a juicy comic turn as a spoiled, cross-dressing club kid, is the sole reason to see this misbegotten, drug-drenched drama depicting the true story of Michael Alig (Macaulay Culkin), a New York City party promoter who committed murder. (R)
It's September, so yellow buses and homework are back in season. These new releases examine the highs and lows of heading to class for learners of all ages.
•Daddy Day Care (Columbia TriStar, $27.94) Amusingly adding to his family-film oeuvre, Eddie Murphy plays a fired ad exec who opens a daycare center. Extras: Adorable featurettes in which Daddy's preschoolers interview each other; three interactive kids' games. (PG)
•Alias: The Complete First Season (Buena Vista, $69.99) A sensational Jennifer Garner juggles grad-school work and spy work in ABC's wonderfully inventive spy drama. Extras: Four trivia-packed commentaries (including a droll one by the cast) and a feature spotlighting the show's fabulous stunts.
•Sixteen Candles and The Breakfast Club (Universal, $19.98 each) The best of teen-movie auteur John Hughes's movies, rereleased with vastly improved picture and sound quality, still speak humorous volumes about high school life. Extras: Candles' original soundtrack (legal issues kept 10 tunes from previous video releases). (PG and R)
•Anger Management (Columbia TriStar, $27.94) Adam Sandler's therapy sessions with Jack Nicholson lose steam, but the real fun comes from cameos by temper-challenged stars like Bobby Knight and Roger Clemens. Extras: Deleted scenes in which Nicholson shows off his comic chops with John McEnroe. (PG-13)
- Contributors:
- Jason Lynch.
Saved by the Bell Reunion
The hookups, the meltdowns, the memoires
The case reveals what was really going on what they think of each other now!
