Northwest Herald from Woodstock, Illinois • Page 81

SIDETRACKS NORTHWEST HERALD Friday. April 28, 2000 Page 5 mi Better storyline helps 'Flintstones' prequel have gay old time eD knock rne over wito a bronto-burger if "Viva Rock Vegas" isn't the spring's most pleasant surprise. It has much to overcome. No recent film has a more dubious rea son to exist. "Viva Rock Vegas" is the follow-up to 1994 "The Flintstones" -like "Mission; Irrrpossible'' and "The Lost WorU" one of those massivery hyped summer event movies of the 1990s that grossed sinful amounts of money worldwide yet just try to find anyone who liked them.

In the last six years have you heard anyone say, i i nil I i riTT ii-i-Mi m- mm i "When are they going to make another Flintstones movie?" Yet the original film's worldwide box office draw of $350 million meant a sequel would happen whether anyone wanted to see it or not The history of the sequel (prequeL actually) wasn't promising either. With John Goodman adamant he would never play Fred Flintstone again (be quickly grew sick of Photo provided Kristen Johnston stars as Wilma and Mark Addy as Fred Flintstone in The Flintstones in VWa Rock Vegas." Jeffrey Westhoff HERALD FILM CRITIC "Viva Rock Vegas" it-irk Rated PG (or innuendo and brief language Running rime: 1 hour, 31 minutes Written by Deborah Kaplan, Harry Bfortt, Jim Cash and Jack Epos Jr. Directed by Brian Levant two couples up at his new casino in Rock Vegas. Is Chip up to something? Of course. Fortunately, Fred and Barney will get help from that little green alien, the Great Gazoo (Alan Cumming, whose body was shrunk through a process similar to what you might do with your boss' picture using Photoshop).

Harvey Korman, Gazoo's voice on the cartoon series, plays Wilma's addled father. This is a promotion for Korman, whose role in the first film was the voice of a wise-cracking bird. The level of humor remains the same as the TV show's. Most of the jokes involve puns based on "rock" or "stone" or complaining dinosaurs who work as home appliances (one has the voice of Rosie O'Donnell, who played Betty in the first film). While the movie clearly is aimed at children (expect pratfalls galore), some laughs are unexpected, like the reference to the vice scene from "Casino." "Viva Rock Vegas" looks less expensive than its predecessor, and that helps.

Face it, "The Flintstones" was not a great TV shcrw to begin with. "Viva Rock Vegas" takes the show for what it is, fondly remembered but not beloved. More laid back than the attention-starved first film, "Viva Rock Vegas" allows the audience to enjoy easygoing chuckles with Fred and the gang. The script doesn't ask Addy to do much physically besides wear Fred's trademark orange skin and blue tie (exactly what animals were killed for that but vocally Addy is right on cue. He ably recaptures Alan Reed's delivery from the TV show.

Likewise for Baldwin, who overcomes the fact he is awfully tall to play Barney. people shouting Yabba dabba doq" at him as he walked down the street), the producers were forced to economize on casting. The new Fred is Mark Addy, co-star of The Full Monty" and hardly a household name. The new Barney Rubble is lesser Baldwin Stephen. The rest of tie cast is made up of TV actors picking up extra cash while their shows were one hiatus.

And yet "Viva Rock Vegas" is more enjoyable than the first movie simply because this time, the filmmakers have a story to telL The earlier film was a rnish-mash that did little more than physically recreate the cartoon. "Viva Rock Vegas" is a prequel series. It delves into the prehistory of prehistory, showing the time when Fred met Wilma, Barney met Betty and Dino was an egg. Fred and Barney have just landed their jobs at the Slate Quarry. Meanwhile in the hills above Bedrock, a debutante named Wilma Slaghoople (Kristen Johnston of "Third Rock From the dreams of escaping her fatuous rich friends and meeting the common folk.

Wilma runs away and hooks up with poor but plucky carhop Betty O'Shale (Jane Krakowski of "Ally Soon they meet and fall for Fred and Barney. This horrifies Wilma's mother (Joan Collins), who insists Wilma should go back to rich ex-boyfriend Chip Rockefeller (Thomas Gibson of "Dharma and "He was first in his class at Princestone," says Mama Slaghoople. Chip insists he has no hard feelings and puts the Box Office The top 20 movies at North American theaters Friday through Sunday, followed by Distribution studio, gross, number ot theater locations, average receipts per location, total gross and number of weeks in release, as compiled Monday by Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc. and ACNietsen EDI Inc.

I. 1M71," Universal, $19.6 miKon, 2,583 locations, $7,570 average, $19.6 million, one week. 2. "Love and Basketball," New Line. $8.1 million, 1,237 locations, $6,580 average, $8.1 million, one 3.

"Rules of Engagement," Paramount. $8 mrSon, 3,220 locations, $2,487 average, $43.1 million, three weeks. 4. "28 Days," Sony, $7.3 mil-Ion, 2,523 locations. $2,894 average, $22 mWon, two weeks.

5. "Keeping the Farm," Disney. $7.2 million, 2,158 locations. $3,352 average, $18.6 million, two weeks. 6.

"Erin Brockovich," Universal, $5.5 mon, 3,056 locations, $1,800 average, $107.4 rriNon, six weeks. 7. The Road to El Dorado," DreamWorks. $5.2 million, 3,170 locations, $1,648 average, $41.9 mSion, four weeks. 8.

"Return to Me," MGM, $4 miWon, 2,320 locations, $1 ,708 average, $21 2 million, three weeks. 9. "Final Destination," New Line, $2.8 million, 1 ,305 locations, $2,1 1 6 average, $42.6 miton, six 10. "The SkutU," Universal, $2.7 million, 2,047 locations, $1,325 average, $30.3 million, four weeks. I I "American Psycho," Lions Gate, $2.7 million.

1 ,242 locations, $2.1 78 average, $9.7 mflSon. two weeks. 12. "Goealp," Warner $2.3 million, 1,525 locations. $1322 average, $2.3 mMkm, one week.

13. "High Disney. $225 milton, 1.231 locations, $1 ,829 average. $20.1 mfflion, four 14. "Fantasia 2000." Disney.

$1 9 million, 53 locators, $36,604 average, $45.8 miffion, 1 7 weeks. 15. "Romeo Must Die," Warner $1.5 million. 1,439 locations. $1 ,072 average, $52.4 million, Ave 16.

"American Beauty," DreamWorks. $1.4 mMon, 1,130 locations, $1,201 average, $127 mi-Ion. 32 weeks. 17. "Where the Money la," USA Flms.

$1 2 mMon. 1 .535 loca-on, $795 average, $4.6 mtfton, -two weeks. 1a "Reedy to Rumble," Warner $994,671, 1,672 locations, $595 average. $1 1.3 mifflon, three weeks. 19.

"My Dog Sktp," Warner $594,731. 937 locations, $635 average, $32.4 mMon, 15 weeks. 2a "Mission to Man," Disney, $384,427, 508 locations, $757 age, $58.8 minion, seven weeks. Only Johnson is miscast While the other actors remain faithful to their characters' cartoon roots, Johnston is her braying, gangly self. She is far from the petite beauty Wilma is supposed to be.

Director Brian Levant should have worked harder to find the perfect Wilma, because "Rock Vegas" is really more her story than Fred's. Also disappointing is that once the gang arrives in Rock Vegas, the show's most famous guest star, Ann-Margrock, never appears. Fortunately her counterpart, Ann-Margret belts out the title song. This is fitting, since she starred with Elvis in the film of almost the same name. "Viva Rock Vegas" is nothing earth-shattering, but it is silly and enjoyable.

With so many disappointing films this spring, one that exceeds even meager expectations deserves a salute. Jeffrey Westhoff is a feature writer who has been reviewing films for the Northwest Herald since 1989. He can be reached through his email address at GRAYSLAKE Crystal Lake Comunity Band rts lake county fairgrounds Grayslake, Illinois Illinois 120 U.S. 45 SATURDAY SUNDAY April 20 30 ajn. to 4.C3 pjn.

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