Muncie Evening Press from Muncie, Indiana • Page 28

The Muncie Evening Press Page 28 Thursday, November 23, 1989 theater Has success spoiled funnyman Eddie Murphy? By KEITH ROYSDON Evening Press film reviewer "Harlem Nights," Eddie Murphy's directing debut and the movie that teams the young star with his idol, Richard Pryor, starts strong with some explosively funny, raunchy scenes. Propelled by Pryor's most wise, charismatic performance in years, the film is off-and-on funny. Murphy's screenplay i is salty with violence and foul language. But more than halfway through, "Harlem Nights" runs out of gas. And its climax is so slight, 1 the movie doesn't end it evaporates from the screen.

Set in Harlem in 1938, the film casts Pryor as Sugar Ray, the selfmade owner of a club that has music, booze and women. Ray's adopted son is Quick (Murphy), a hot-headed, cold-hearted young man who relishes taking risks. Ray's club is the object of a hostile takeover attempt by a white gangster (Michael Lerner) who pulls the strings of a corrupt cop (Danny Aiello). As Quick dodges the gangster's bullets and beds the mobster's moll (Jasmine Guy), Ray makes plans for a showdown between the two sides. In Murphy's previous movies, he played a similar character and seemed cocky but likable.

Here he seems merely crass. A scene in which Quick fights the club's madame (Della Reese) is supposed to be funny but is instead embarrassing and makes one recall the woman-hating tone of "Beverly Hills Cop II," a movie which Murphy has since decried. In another questionable choice of humor, Murphy's screenplay tells us we're supposed to hate Aiello because he mocks a stuttering boxer (Stan Shaw). But the movie has fun at his expense too in two scenes, Pryor smiles and mugs while the man struggles to finish a sentence. But "Harlem Nights" does provide something of a recent career highlight for Pryor.

His best film roles cast him as a hot-tempered dynamo. More recently, he has been grotesquely made over into a hapless jester. Murphy's screenplay gives Pryor a meaty role that casts him as a sort of elder statesman. He is dignified but tough. He's utterly believable, whether he's playing a romantic scene, cautioning his adopted son or facing off against his rivals.

The supporting cast includes Redd Foxx, who is, unfortunately, 5120 "Harlem Nights" stars (left to right) Eddie Murphy, Richard Pryor and Redd Foxx wasted in a nothing role. The movie blows its chance to effectively team three generations of comics. Murphy's pal, Arsenio Hall, rants and screams his way through an amusing cameo. If you're sensitive to rough language, you probably won't go see a movie starring Murphy and Pryor, who built their careers on no-holdsbarred stand-up comedy. But "Harlem Nights" seems especially crude.

It's one thing for Murphy or Pryor to say something on stage, where it seems spontaneous. But Murphy had to take the time to put this on paper. That Murphy didn't realize the language would become tiresome shows that, for all his talent, he hasn't matured as a screenwriter. "Harlem Nights" shows his lack of good judgment. Quick cuts Brief comments on movies now playing locally: One of the brightest moments in Woody Allen's 1980 "Stardust Memories" was when an alien spaceship landed and the occupants spoke to Allen, who was playing a filmmaker who had lately turned from comedy to drama.

"We like your movies," the aliens said. "Especially the early, funny ones." Allen is obviously aware of public perception of his "serious" films, including "September" and "Another Woman." They don't like them as much as his early, funny ones: "Love and Death," "Annie Hall," "Zelig" and "Hannah and her The director earlier this year made the out-and-out comedy "Oedipus Wrecks," a segment of the trilogy "New York Stories," and he now gives us "Crimes and Misdemeanors," a hybrid film that mixes a typical Allen story of neurotic New Yorkers with a murder drama right out of Hitchcock. The two plots are only tenuously connected until the end. In the serious half, Martin Landau plays a married man whose mistress (Anjelica Huston) has threatened to expose their affair. Landau turns to his shady brother (Jerry Orbach) for a solution to his problem.

The lighter story features Allen as a down-at-the-heels documentary filmmaker hired to make a PBS special about his brother-inlaw (Alan Alda), a pompous producer of television comedies. Allen falls for the show's producer (Mia Farrow), who is being pursued by Alda. Allen deals with subjects he knows well, including love, obsession and guilt. He does so with his usual genuine wit. His screenplays are filled with wonderful lines, but here's a real gem: By way of explaining show business to his young niece, Allen says, "Show business is dog-eat-dog.

No, it's worse than dog-eat-dog. It's dog-doesn't-return-other-dog'sphone-calls." It seems the folks at Disney have risen to the challenge of the studio's expatriate animator Don Bluth, whose films "The Secret of NIMH," "An American Tail" and "'The Land Before Time" have been consistently better than the recent animated features from the mouse factory. The proof that Disney responded to Bluth's work is "The Little Mermaid," the studio's 28th cartoon feature. A loose adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, the movie is a jewel, a delight for kids and adults. The story is about a young mermaid, Ariel, who falls in love with a human prince.

Ariel makes a pact with the sea witch Ursula: Ursula will give Ariel human form but the witch will keep the mermaid's voice. If the prince kisses Ariel within three days, she will remain human and they will live happily ever after. If not, Ariel will become one of Ursula's slaves. The film, which was written and directed by John Musker and Ron Clements, is gorgeous. The animation is everything Disney is famous for, and is especially lush in 'Little Mermaid' wins animation sho showdown By JOHN HORN Associated Press writer HOLLYWOOD Disney's "The Little Mermaid" slithered by MGMUA's "All Dogs Go to Heaven" at the box office last weekend in the animation showdown of the year.

The weekend's top film, though, was Eddie Murphy's self-congratulatory "Harlem Nights," according to figures released Monday. "The Little Mermaid," which some critics have labeled an instant classic, finished in third place in its premiere weekend, setting a record for an animated film with a perscreen average of $6,068 a theater, Disney said. Its opening weekend of $6.1 million was 50 percent better than last year's "Oliver and which became the all-time top grossing animated film with a domestic gate of $53.3 million. Disney said half of "Mermaid's" viewers were adults and teenagers unaccompanied by children. "Harlem Nights," which bears the distinction of mentioning its star's name five times in the opening credits, was the thirdbiggest Thanksgiving-Christmas release ever, taking in $16.1 million last weekend.

The biggest fall films are "Rocky IV," which debuted with $20 million in 1985 "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home," which collected $16.9 million in 1986. Overall business for last weekend's top 10 films was $52 million, Advertising Correction On The Back Cover In Today's TwoDay After Thanksgiving Sale Insert, We Advertise A Popcorn Tin. The Pictured Style Will Not Be Available. However, We Will Have Everyday Popcorn Tins And Some Christmas Styles Available At This Sale Price. We Apologize For Any Inconvenience This May Have Caused Our Customers.

KOHL'S DEPARTMENT STORES reel news The big picture Muncie Evening Press movie reviewer Keith Roysdon's capsule comments on films now playing locally: Jack Lemmon and Ted Danson make a likable pair as a father and son reunited by tragedy in this heart-tugging family drama. Recommended. Playing at Delaware Cinema. An Innocent Man" Tom Selleck has one of his best roles in years as a nice guy who turns tough when he's sent to prison. David Rasche is along for the ride as a great villain.

Recommended. Playing at Delaware Cinema. "Shocker" Director Wes Craven's reworking of his popular Nightmare on Elm Street" doesn't give the same goofy charge of that movie. Not recommended. Playing Delaware Cinema.

"Batman" Although the movie is out on videocassette, you can still Anton Furst's striking Gotham City sets on the big screen. Recommended. Playing at Movies at Muncie Mall. "Harlem Nights Nobody's hotter than Eddie Murphy. So how does Richard Pryor rate his name above the title in the credits of Murphy's directing debut? By being very nearly the only redeeming feature of this raunchy, noisy comedy, Not recommended.

Playing at Movies at Muncie Mall "The Bear" Although it won big audiences in Europe and critical acclaim here, this story of a bear cub's efforts to survive in the wild seems too harsh for children, too low-key for adults, It is, though, unlike anything else at the movies right now. Recommended. Playing at Movies at Muncie Mail. "Next of Kin" Utterly predictable but still enjoyable, this action movie casts Patrick Swayze as a Chicago cop who resumes his hill country ways to avenge his brother's death. Recommended.

Playing at Movies at Muncie Mall. "The Little Mermaid" If anyone had any doubts that Disney still makes the best animated features, this charming and beautiful fairy tale should dispell them. This gem, complete with feisty heroine and hilarious supporting characters, is among the studio's best. Highly recommended. Playing at Northwest Plaza Cinema.

Dogs Go to Heaven" Compared to "The Little Mermaid," this Don Bluth cartoon feature is flat and unappealing. A definite step down from the animator's previous work, including 'The Land Before Time' and "An American Tail." Recommended. Playing at Northwest Plaza Cinema. "Crimes and Misdemeanors" There is no higher praise than to say this is a terrifically enjoyable Woody Allen movie. The combines a serious murder story with a light romantic farce to great effect.

Highly recommended. "Steel Magnolias" Audiences will realize they're being manipulated by this tearjerker won't care. The ensemble cast comes across well, but the young career of Julia Roberts should benefit most. Recommended. Playing at Northwest Plaza Cinema.

"Staying Together" This meandering drama captures some of the despair and hope that goes along with modern family life. Recommended. Playing at Northwest Plaza Cinema. 'Gross Anatomy" Much less of medical school high jinks" movie than the ads imply, the film is a fairly interesting look at the pressures of learning to be a doctor, but it doesn't do for budding healers what "The Paper Chase' did for attorneys. Recommended.

Playing at Northwest Plaza Cinema. Who's Talking" John Travolta's comeback takes a back seat to some adorable infants and Bruce Willis' off-screen presence in this sweetnatured romantic comedy. Recommended. Playing at Northwest Plaza Cinema. underwater scenes.

A ship breaking through fog and a merman's sudden appearance out of the shadows are breathtaking. The movie has thrilling sequences, a spirited heroine in Ariel and a truly scary villain in Ursula. There are plenty of laughs a crazed chef's pursuit of Ariel's crab friend is hilarious and tuneful songs by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, who wrote the music for "Little Shop of Horrors." "The Little Mermaid" is the best Disney film in many years. On the other hand, "All Dogs Go to Heaven" is a disappointment considering that it comes from Bluth, whose last film, "The Land Before Time," put its Disney competitor, "Oliver and to shame. "All Dogs" has a maudlin story about an orphan befriended by a roguish dog.

The story seems swiped from "Oliver and Co." and lacks the drive and originality of Bluth's previous films. The animation has a muddy look, especially when compared to the brilliant hues of "The Little Mermaid." The stars who provide voices including Burt Reynolds and Dom DeLuise don't manage to give the slight story weight. up 47 percent from a year ago, Entertainment Data Inc. said. "Look Who's Talking," the loveover-diapers comedy featuring John Travolta, Kirstie Alley and the voice of Bruce Willis, landed in second last weekend with $8.5 million.

Down 25 percent from the previous week, "Look Who's Talking" nonetheless passed $85 million. The ensemble drama "Steel Magnolias" finished in fourth with $5.4 million and a strong per-screen average of $11,303 in a somewhat limited release. The film stars Dolly Parton, Sally Field and Shirley MacLaine, among others. In fifth was "All Dogs Go to Heaven," the new animated film from Don Bluth. Featuring the voice of Burt Reynolds, "All Dogs" opened to $4.7 million.

Its perscreen average was $2,988. Here are the top movies for the weekend as tallied by Entertainment Data and Exhibitor Relations Co. Figures are based on a combination of actual box-office receipts and studio projections where actual figures are not immediately available. 1. "Harlem Nights," Paramount.

million weekend gross, 2,180 screens, $7,384 per $16.1 million total gross, one week in release. Who's Talking," Tri-Star, $8.5 million, 1,651 screens, $5,171 per screen, $85.1 million. six weeks. 3. "The Little Mermaid," Disney, $6.1 million.

994 screens, $6,068 per screen, $6.1 million, one week. 4. "Steel Magnolias," Tri-Star. $5.4 million, 480 screens, $11,303 per screen, $5.4 million, one week. Her Closet Presents GINNIE JOHANSEN' Accessories Oblong Drape Fold oblong lengthwise in pleats about 3-4" wide.

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9. "Crimes and Misdemeanors," Orion, $1.5 million, 503 screens, $2,884 per screen, $11.1 million, six weeks. 10. "Staying Together," Hemdale, $939,208, 1.004 screens, $935 per screen, $3.4 million, two weeks. Saundra's Dolls and Collectibles Join The Bradley Collectible Doll Club Only At Saundra's Such Lovely Dolls: Lee Middleton Zanini Zambelli Applause Precious Moments Berjusa Stolle Dolls And So Much More! 0.0 Hours: 10-6; 10-5; 12-5 Saundra Adams 116 Smith Yorktown, IN 759-8055 0 0 0 0 Muncie Mall Naturalizer PRICE PERFECT FASHION If the look is perfect, the fit perfectly comfortable and the price just right, it's a Naturalizer value that's too perfect to pass up! In Red, Wine, Bone, Black Patent, Grey, Navy, Taupe, Black Smooth.

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