Arizona Daily Star from Tucson, Arizona • Page 33

EBTMAtiASiE COPY July 3, 2002 Summer camps Find numerous camps and classes focusing on sports, academics and arts. www.azstamet.comcamps My LL LL. SECTION vr ifi ARIZONA DAILY STAR SERVING TUCSON SINCE 1877 Ir- I a L. 1 'I i Men dob. IkEs II ifiEis it ii By Phil Villarreal ARIZONA DAILY STAR 1 1 1 1997 film returning: Check.

Movie- i Heroic Powerpuff Girls the same as 1999's "Wild Wild West," also directed by director Barry Sonnenfeld and starring Smith, "MIIB" is a substandard movie riding on the coattails of "Men in Black." And just the same as "Wild Wild West," "MHB" is sure to pull in tens of millions. This makes three consecutive vastly disappointing films from Sonnenfeld, including this year's "Big Trouble" and the "Wild Wild West" debacle. The director's career prospects are beginning to resemble those of Mr. T. But if we collectively hand Kay (Jones).

Jay finds his old partner and helps refresh Kay's memory. Then it's time to blast badly rendered aliens, engage in tawdry dialogue, and get flushed down a gigantic toilet. You know, the usual. Every now and then, there's a smart, pop-culture skewering joke reminiscent of the first movie. In one of the funnier scenes, Smith beat-boxes to communicate with one alien and there's a clever joke involving Michael Jackson, which we won't spoil.

News that this film is a dud will smart like a dagger in the arm to those who've been waiting for the follow-up to the deadpan kick booty in film debut By Phil Villarreal ARIZONA DAILY STAR Kdi based Will Smith rap song on the radio: Check. Five-year buildup in anticipation for a sequel: Check. Everything seems to be in place for "Men in Black II" to be a dynamic success. Yet somehow, the package fizzles. "MTTB," which follows the continuing adventures of the secret government society that protects us from aliens, is just as fireworks-free as Tucson's skies will be this Fourth of July.

Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones seem to be simply punching their time cards this time around. over tens of millions iris everywhere who dot their i's i with hearts are in for a treat the beloved Powerpuff Girls are leaping of dollars for comedic thrills provided by "Men in Black." But it's doubtful anyone who enjoyed the first one won't want to a movie this bad, i see this sequel, and the studio exec' V. utives 1 It'll 1 i I we're the I fools You can't blame them. The script is so lame, with a deriv- ative story and only a few laughs, it must have been tough for. the stars to generate any enthusiasm.

At one point, Smith shoves his open palm in Jones' face and says "talk to the know it. off the TV and onto theater screens. "The Powerpuff Girls Movie" is a light, action-packed crowd- pleaser, and fans of the series will no doubt beam with delight at the larger-than-life sight of Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup giving archenemy Mojo Jojo the business on the movie screen. Parents who pointedly make themselves scarce at 9 a.m 5:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

on weekdays, when the Cartoon Network airs the show, may want to take some motion-sickness pills before viewing this supersized Powerpuff extravaganza. Just 7 to i Plty" This movie, a rapid-fire whirl of color and action, is geared for those with attention spans being groomed for MTV. The flick plays like a sugar rush, but is, bar none, the most entertaining kiddie flick currently in theaters. Director Craig McCracken, who created the Powerpuff Girls and writes hand." Yeah, that joke was funny to circa 1988 fifth-graders. Yet the film's humor is a glowing beacon of cinematic perfection compared to the special effects.

The computer-generated aliens are so fake, they distract the audience from the story. The worst effect of all is the concoction that makes MTV "Jackass" star Johnny Knoxville's character appear to have two heads. The second head is smaller, spouts off misfired sarcasm, and is connected to Knoxville's body by a long, rubber-looking thing that's supposed to be a neck. Give any teen-ager two hours on Microsoft Paint and he could make something that looks more real. The story: Agent Jay (Smith) must save the world from a vine-spewing alien played by Lara Flynn Boyle.

Jay discovers that the key to lancing the creature lies in the memory-erased Agent and directs the TV series, tells the origin story of his characters. In the troubled city of Townsville, which has no shortage of evil geniuses, Professor Utonium tries to create the per Review I Men In Black II, rated PG-13 for sci-fi action violence and some provocative humor, stars Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Rip Torn, Lara Flynn Boyle and Rosario Dawson. The film is directed by Barry Sonnenfeld and runs 82 minutes. fect little girl with sugar, spice and everything nice. When the profs monkey assistant, Jojo, knocks some Chemical into the I mix, the Powerpuff Girls are born as super-strong kindergartners able to fly and shoot heat beams out of UW 00 Review I The Powerpuff Girls Movie, rated PG for nonstop, frenetic animated action, stars the voices of Catherine Cavadini, Tara Strong and E.G.

Daily. The film is directed by Craig McCracken and runs 84 minutes. their eyes. Jojo grows a protruding brain and becomes Mojo Jojo, the most dangerous primate since King Kong. The setup seems predictable enough, but McCracken throws in some twists.

The girls, for instance, are hated by Townsvillians for most of the film, because they nearly de By Phil Villarreal ARIZONA DAILY STAR ike Doggfather, like Dogg-. Nephew. I Rapper Lil'Bow Wow given a pair of Nikes that belonged to Michael Jordan. The shoes give the 4-foot-8-inch Calvin the power to throw down dunks and nail jumpers just like M. J.

The fictional Los Angeles Knights notice Calvin's talents and sign him to an NBA contract. What we really need is a good zapping to set you straight. Once in the NBA, Calvin hits a game-winning shot and instills the value of teamwork on the squad. Several NBA personalities, including Jason Kidd and former Arizona player Tom Tol-bert, pop up. A scene attempting or Shad Moss, if you wanna get all technical shows just as poor a taste in movie projects as his uncle, Snoop Dogg.

I "Like Mike," Lil' Bow Wow's debut, is every bit as brain- dead as Snoop's star ring efforts, "The Review I Like Mike, rated PG for, brief mild language, stars Lil' Bow Wow, Morris Chestnut, Robert Forster and Crispin Glover. The film is directed by John Schultz and runs 95 minutes. want to see is "Like Mike 2," in which the shoes make Calvin get caught up in a gambling scandal, then ill-advised-ly quit the NBA to become a mediocre pro baseball player. But back to this movie. Just after Calvin receives the to show the depth of the little man's skills has Calvin dunking on the aging David Robinson as if that's been tough to do the past few years.

Jordan, though, is conspicuously absent. "Dumbo of the Year." With stale acting and a dreadfully dull story, "Like Mike" is all but unwatchable to adults. Little kids may be entertained, but let's face it, little kids can also be entertained by wrapping paper for hours. As 13-year-old Calvin Cambridge, Lil' Bow Wow who says he now wants to be referred to simply as the more adult "Bow Wow" is an orphan who lives in a group home along with his buddy, Murph. Murph is played by Jonathan Lipnicki (otherwise known as The Kid From "Jerry who is suffering from Macaulay Culkin syndrome, which causes one to lose 90 percent of one's cuteness with each passing year.

Instead of prancing cheerfully and singing about being an orphan like Annie, Calvin and Murph walk around gloomily and complain constantly about having no parents. A ray of sunshine comes into boys' lives when Calvin is Wash" and "Bones." The story, in which a InrTc mnuir cVinAC allow him to play in the NBA, com- bines the premises of "Dum- bo" and "Rookie I of the Year," making this movie, aptly, 1 You already know the rest of the story. Calvin's youthful enthusiasm will rub off on a bitter, selfish team will stop losing and make a drive for the playoffs, and Calvin will lose his magic shoes for the big game, forcing him to rely on his natural talents. How about a Lil' originality? shoes, a bully tosses them up on a telephone wire. The basketball skill Isn't infused into Calvin until he climbs up a tree during a thunderstorm and gets zapped by lightning while retrieving the shoes.

What a great message for kids: Unhappy with your life? All you stroy the town while playing a reckless game of tag. In order to redeem themselves, the girls team with Mojo Jojo, who tells the girls that he's building a "Help-the-Town-and-Make-it-a-Better-Place Machine." Of course, Mojo Jojo is really working on a secret plot to take over Townsville. The overall pace and feel of the movie captures the spirit of Japanese anime, with its round-mouthed, almond-eyed characters and frenetic action. The animation is simple and striking, with thick black outlines, angular geometric shapes and bright colors. Though this is more of an action movie than a comedy, there is ample humor, mostly along the lines of Alvin and the Chipmunks," in which the professor takes over Dave's role of having to reign in three good-hearted but wily kids.

Every now and then, the material is as bitterly subversive as "Ren Stimpy," with sharp little reflections on society aimed over kids' heads, smack at adults. The film as a whole could easily push feminism, but really backs off in that regard, settling with a simple goal that has eluded pop culture to this point to portray female superheroes who don't have to double as sex symbols. A fun seven-minute short, "Dexter's Laboratory," which is a comic tall tale about chickenpox, gets things started. The feature itself clocks in at about 80 minutes. You won't enjoy the movie as much as your kids.

But at least "The Powerpuff Girls Movie" won't take up too much of your time. Contact reporter Phil Villarreal at 573-4130 orprvazstarnet.com. Rap star Bow Wow en old dawg at 15r aid don't call him Lil' By Chris Vognar THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS Enter the mind of a 15-vear-oId rapmovie star. On being a role model: "A lot of kids look up to me, and that's the On the demands of being a star. "I do homework on my downtime.

Sometimes they give me one or two hours down, but then it's right back. But I like this better than just going to school. If I just went to school, I would be like 'Dang, I wish I had my life On goals: "My goal is definitely to go to Duke to play basketball. But if I get a shot to go to the NBA before then, then I'm not going to On not being Lil' any more: "I'm get ting older and fans are growing up with me. It was just time for a change.

Besides, the fans don't call me Lil' Bow Wow, they just call me Bow Wow. I changed it because I'm growing up." On the NBA: "Michael Jordan was my favorite player. I'm a Lakers fan now because of Phil Jackson. Scottie (Pip-pen) is my boy, but it's almost time for him to retire. His game is still good, but I feel like he's about to hang it up.

Give him about two more years." fun part about everything. I always watch what I do and watch what I say. I always think about the kids, be cause there's a lot of things I really can't say around them. I have to set an example. I have to be Bow Wow.".