Lincoln Journal Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 10

2D Lincoln Journal Star Friday, February 7, 1997 ENTERTAINMENT Page design: Vicki S. Tod 10 Volcanos, pests, beast hit screens this weekend Will she live happily ever after? Or-will she be sent back to TV land, tail between her legs? Ah. hell who cares? rs would showcase his talent, Leguizamo is trapped inside an inane plot that rarely lets him turn loose his considerable charm. Leguizamo plays Pestario "Pest" Vargas, a Miami con artist who's on the run from the Scottish mob because of a $50,000 debt His financial prayers are answered when wacko German hunter Gus-tav Shank (Jeffrey Jones) offers him a $50,000 scholarship actually an excuse to use Pest as a human target With the help of Gustav's gay son, Himmel (Edoardo Ballerini), Pest escapes the Shank enclave and takes Gustav and his henchmen on a wild tour of South Unfortunately, none of this is very funny or convincing. In fact it's mostly stupid and dull which is a death sentence for any comedy.

That's too bad. Leguizamo is talented enough to carry a movie by himself. If he can recover from this turkey, maybe he'll get a real plot the next time around. The Beautician and the Beast Vi The title, "The Beautician and the Beast" suggests a fairy tale. Yes, it's the fanciful story of a middling actress from Queens with a fingernails-across-the-blackboard voice who somehow finds success and happiness in the inexplicable world that is TV sitcomhood, then goes on to her first starring role on the big screen playing surprise! essentially the same character.

"The Beautician and the Beast," starring (and co-produced by) Frafti' Drescher, is a bad movie. Early onlt shows some admirable ambition of-' becoming bad enough to at least provide some campy fun. But, alasvrrrn it loses even that momentum, seU'" tling in as merely awfuL Idni The plot, such as it is, findcM Drescher as Joy Miller, a be-upwardly mobile beautician wno-is recruited to tutor the children of Boris Pochenko (Timothy the tyrannical leader of the former communist nation of Slovetzkia. Air! kinds of hijinks ensue when our in- -trepid heroine realizes she's in over her head and the nasty Boris decides there must be more to life than jail ing dissidents and running rough-1; shod over his citizens rights. So it's your typical girl-meets-despot, girl-falls-in-love-with-despot; girl-loses-despot, girl-gets-back-tcf gether-with-despot, girl-and-despot-join-forces-tc-kill-their-agents type of movie.

Give Drescher some credr it, though: She makes her way through this idiocy with apparent good cheer, either blissfully unaware or determinedly unconcerneVI that it is the biggest waste of cellujv; loid since last year's remake of "Sgt Bilko." Dalton's constipated scowl as chenko, on the other hand, seems too; reflect the more appropriate mood for sitting through "The and the Beast. efl I BENQLASSAMwulStudackie. A With the Earth's clock racing against them, Harry Dalton (Pierce Brosnan, center) and Rachel Wando (Linda Hamilton, right) must rescue her two children, Graham (Jeremy Foley) and Lauren (Jamie Renee Smith) from an erupting volcano in "Dante's Peak," auditorium, Columbus High School, 220tf- 26th Columbus. Tickets: $5 adults, $3 studentssenior citizens. wipi- Concert, Ronald Radford, guitarist, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Welter Auditori-urn, Concordia College campus, Seward, o.C Tickets: $5. Play, "Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bun- ny," Omaha Theater 7 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Saturday will be described for visually impaired.

Rose, 2001 Famam Omaha. Tickets? $12, discount tickets $9 at all area King restaurants and Hy-Vee Food Stores." Phone (402) 345-4849. Play, "Rumors," Yorkshire Playhouse, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. York Leaion Club.

225 W. Fifth York. BY KENT WOLGAMOTT and DANIEL R. MOSER Lincoln Journal Star Dante's Peak "Twister" roared across screens last summer, doing the kind of nine-figure business that makes Hollywood salivate and sends studios looking for natural disaster movies in hopes of repeating that success. So 1997 is the year of the volcano, with three cinematic eruptions scheduled to hit screens.

"Dante's Peak" won the molten race to the cineplexes. But compared to "Twister," from which it copies its implausible, paper-thin plot, "Dante's Peak" is a major disappointment The movie stars Pierce Brosnan, who walks through his role as Harry Dalton, a U.S. Geological Survey vol-canologist who is sent to the tiny, idyllic town of Dante's Peak because the nearby dormant volcano appears ready to blow its stack. Mayor Rachel Wando (Linda Hamilton), a single mom, is convinced that Dalton's hunch is right She calls an emergency meeting of the town council to talk about evacuation a move that would kill an impending business boom. So when Dalton's boss Paul Dreyfus (Charles Hallahan) arrives, the idea of fleeing dies early.

Of course, Dalton is proved right and manages to fall in love with Her Honor before the mountain Screenings New releases Start today unless otherwise noted Movies are rated up to The Beautician and the Beast Fran Drescher and Timothy Dalton fill the title roles in this unfunny farce. PG. (Plaza 4). Bound. Jennifer Tilly and Gina Gershon play lovers who try to steal $2 million from mobster Joe Pantoiiano in this audacious film nc from the Wachowski brothers that was one of the best films of 1996.

(language, violence, nudity). (Opened Thursday, Ross.) Dante's Peak. Disappointing disaster movie with so-so effects about a volcano eruption that destroys a small town, starring Pierce Brosnan and Linda Hamilton. PG-13. (Lincoln, Edgewood.) The Pest John Leguizamo plays a Miami con man who is hunted for a price in this dull, stupid comedy that wastes his talent.

PG-13. (Plaza.) Ongoing movies Beverly Hills Ninja. Chris Farley plays an incompetent Ninja who goes to Los Angeles to help a beautiful woman foil a counterfeiter in this dull, predictable comedy. PG-13. (Douglas.) Vfe Daylight Sylvester Stallone stars in this action picture about the collapse of an underwater tunnel between New York and New Jersey which is essentially a "The Poseidon Adventure" take-off.

PG-13. (Star Ship.) Evita. Madonna and Antonio Banderas star in the film adaptation of the Andrew Lloyd WebberTim Rice musical that traces the life of Eva Peron. The film is well made but doesn't create the emotional attachment needed for greatness. PG.

(Lincoln.) The First Wives Club. GoWie Hawn, Bette Midler and Diane Keaton star in this comedy about divorcees who get their revenge on their ex-husbands. PG-13. (Star Ship.) Vi The Ghost and the Darkness. Val Kilmer and Michael Douglas star in this movie based on a true story about vicious Hons attacking a railroad crew in East Africa in the late 19th century.

(language, violence). (Star Ship.) Vt Gridlock'd. The late rapper Tupac Shakur and Tim Roth star in this urban black comedy about a pair of junkies trying to go straight who are frustrated by bureaucracy and pursued by dealers and cops. (language, violence, subject matter). (Douglas.) Late night David Letterman Surprises in the New Version of Star Wars: 10.

Part of Chewbacca now played by a shirtless Ed Asner. 9. Commander of the Death Star: Dr. Kevorkian. 8.

Land speeders replaced with bitchin' pink Miatas. 7. Comic relief provided by Cheech Marin as Luke Skywalker's wacky Mexican caddy. 6. Darth Vader's voice goes up three octaves after Dennis Rodman kicks him in the groin.

5. Instead of "May the Force be with you," Obi-Wan Kenobi says, "Show me the money!" EH NBC, 23.038 22.3 NBC.22J033 21.3 AFitenos NBC, 18529 18.3 NBC.17.427 16.9 Singh Guy NBC, 10325 15.S fell Honw npfovtcnint Sff tectum 14.9 ft Touched by an Angel CBS, 14.321 119 2020 ABC, 11925 115 American MuticAiiardi(S) tectum 12.8 i 60 Minutes -CBS, 13.122 U7 Spin City ABC, 13.120 12.7 9 9J6 114 A ktopranagtoltVMaiMdtibatfiM. tnnOcrii (P) fmlmt, (R) Am (3) SpwW Source: Nieben Madia Research AP What's hot Music Top Albums From Billboard 1. 'd," soundtrack 2. 'Tragic Kingdom," No Doubt 3: "Evita," soundtrack "Falling Into You," Celine Dion 5: "Secrets," Toni Braxton 6.

"Blue," LeAnn Rimes 7. "Romeo Juliet," soundtrack 8. "Master Presents West Coast Bad Boyz II," various artists 9. "Space Jam," soundtrack 10. "Pieces Of You," Jewel From Homer's I 1 "Evita," soundtrack 2.

"Bringing Down the Horse," The Wallflowers 3. "Gridtock'd soundtrack 4. Romeo Juliet," soundtrack 5. "Blue Moon Ghetto." Blue Moon Ghetto 6. "The Ginuwine," The Ginuwine 7.

"Pieces of You," Jewel 8. "Recovering the Satellite," Counting Crows 9. "Secrets of You," Toni Braxton 10. "Tragic Kingdom," No Doubt Videos New Releases Jack. Robin Williams isn't as manic or funny as one would imagine as he plays a 10-year-old with a growth disorder in this average comedydrama that co-stars Bill Cosby.

PG. Sleeper Breaking Away. This winning story of college-age students who are trying to figure dut what to do with their lives is set around bicycles in Bloomington, Ind. Look for the young Dennis Quaid and Daniel Stem in this 1 979 picture that took home a couple of Oscars. PG.

Top Rentals from Billboard "A Time to Kill" 2. "Phenomenon" 3. "Kingpin" 4. "The Rock" 5. "Fled" 6.

"Chain Reaction" 7. "The Island of Dr. Moreau" 8. "Tin Cup" 9. "Fargo" 10.

"Escape From L.A." Gallery Walk Cabaret opens The Southeast High jazz ensemble, Ars Nova, will open the Gallery Walk Cabaret tonight at the 7th Street Loft 512 S. Seventh St The group is one of 25 college and high school ensembles invited to perform at Carnegie Hall next June in the North American Jazz Festival Tonight's show is from 8 to 11 p.m. The featured group is the Ed Love Jazz Trio. The Gallery Walk Cabaret is a monthly series featuring local jazz musicians and guest artists. It features a smoke-free environment and cash bar; admission is $5.

0 The Pest As he demonstrated in "Too Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar" and in his HBO specials, John Leguizamo is a chameleon capable of putting a funny turn on all kinds of characters. He does just that in "The Pest," imitating a Chinese food delivery boy, a Karaoke-singing Japanese businessman and an Orthodox rabbi, among others. But instead of doing routines that port. (language, violence). (Cinema.

Edgewood.) Michael. John Travolta plays an angel who's being dragged to Chicago by tabloid reporters William Hurt and Andie MacDo-well in this off-beat romantic comedy. PG-13. (East Park.) Vz D3: The Mighty Ducks. The Mighty Ducks are in high school now, discovering girls and fighting it out with the varsity team in this installment of the popular hockey series.

PG. (Star Ship.) The Mirror Has Two Faces. Barbra Streisand directed and flatters herself in this romance about a dumpy college professor transformed by her relationship with Jeff Bridges. But Lauren Bacall steals the show as her mother. PG-13.

(Star Ship, Joyo.) Mother. Albert Brooks wrote, directed and stars in this comedy about a railed sci-fi writer who returns home to rectify his relationship with his mother. But the surprising Debbie Reynolds steals the show as the mom. PG-13. (Cinema.) My Fellow Americans.

Jack Lemmon and James Garner play ex-presidents who hate each other, but must team up to stop themselves from being framed for corruption in this "Grumpy Old Men" style comedy. PG-13. (Edgewood.) The Relic. Tom Sizemore plays a Chicago cop investigating a murder at a natural sciences museum in this ridiculous supernaturalmonster movie. (violence, language).

(Plaza.) Vi Romeo and Juliet Leonardo DrCaprio and Claire Danes star in this post-modern adaptation of Shakespeare's classic love story. PG. (Star Ship.) Scream. Director Wes Craven breathes some new life into the tired slasher movie genre with this well-written story of high school students terrorized by a mysterious, phone-calling slasher. (language, violence).

(Lincoln.) Vi Space Jam. Michael Jordan and the Looney Tunes do full-court battle against aliens in this entertaining live action animation combination. PG. (Star Ship.) '2 Star Wars. The 1977 classic is reissued with 4Vi minutes of new scenes and digitally enhanced sound.

But aU the new tricks aren't needed to make this one better. This is the myth for modem sensibility. PG. (Stuart.) That Thing You Do! Tom Hanks wrote, directed and stars in this affectionate look at a '60s small-town band that lands a hit. PG-13.

(Star Ship.) Jay Leno "President Clinton said today that the reason people at the White House have had to change their stories so much is that when you're asked millions of questions it's not possible to remember the answer to every one. Unless, of course, you're telling the truth and you don't have to remember anything." "Former skater Tonya Harding has asked the country of Norway if she can move there and skate for their Olympic team. But today Norway turned her down. They said, 'Look, we don't even have that much makeup in the entire starts to shake, rattle and rolL Then Dante's Peak blows its top, ashes turn into a storm and panic ensues. All this running in front of danger is too reminiscent of "Twister" to be gripping; the romance is far too similar to that film's story as well Part of the reason for the lack of excitement is the fact that the volcano erupts just once about an hour into the 112-minute movie After a few minutes of watching smoke and ash, the novelty wears off.

"Dante's Peak" is a misfire. Top wekend movies Weekend of AD dollar figures in rnlons MM numb Ottawa grou Star Wars $35.9 $35.9, one meek, 2,104 mm JenyMaguir $116.6, tight wMki, 2,140 mtm Scrum $70.4, leven weeks, 1,835 Evita US "$07 S36.8,biwieks,1,038 Metro $4.36 4.8. three weeks, 1 47 screens Beverly Hills Nlni $4.2 CM.tfwe weeks, In Love and War i $10.3, two weeks, 112 "$18 The Rede $29.3. four weeks, 1,719 Michael $803, ex weeks, 1,881 $2.7 $2X8 Grialock'd $34 one B9 743 screens Source: Ertibior Relatione Inc. AP In Love and War.

Chris O'Donnelt plays a young Ernest Hemingway and Sandra Bullock is the Work) War I nurse with whom he falls in love in this bittersweet romantic biopic from director Richard A tt en-borough. PG-13. (Douglas.) Jerry Maguire. Tom Cruise plays sports agent Jerry Maguire, who loses his job but gains a new girlfriend, in this well-crafted romantic comedy from writer-director Cameron Crowe that was the biggest surprise of the holiday movie season. R.

(Plaza, East Park.) Jingle All the Way. Arnold Schwarzenegger plays a father trying to track down a popular doll for his son on Christmas Eve in this so-so holiday comedy. PG. (Star Ship.) Vi Metro. Eddie Murphy plays a wisecracking hostage negotiator who comes face to face with a psychotic killer in this action comedy that co-stars Michael Rapa- 4.

Cameo appearance by Bob Dole as Yoda's great-great-grandfa- ther. 3. Luke and Darth Vader work together to beat the crap out of a bunch of Trekkies. 2. New scene in which Jabba the Hut is hugged by a sobbing Richard Simmons.

l.R2D2?Gay. Conan O'Brien "Kellogg announced Miss Universe will no longer be on their Special box because she's gained 50 pounds. When asked about it, a spokesperson for Kellogg said, 'It's not that we're taking her off the box, she just doesn't fit on it I'XSLSjJJSf XT iOiwJd 6 1213 1 X0 (Si) 3 if Phone (402) 362-7060 for ticket reservauJ tions and (402) 362-701 1 for dinner reservations. 'T Opera, "La Boheme," presented by Op to era Omaha, 7:30 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m.

Sun; day, Orpheum theater, 409 S. 16th Omaha. Tickets Phone (4021 346-7372. Play, "Saving Grace," KBC Produc tions, directed by Kevin and Betty 7:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Thursdayr 2 p.m.

Sunday. The Kountze Mahoney State Park, off 1-80 Bt'" exit 426. Tickets: theater only $7'' -adults, $5 children 12 and under; dinner theater package $14 adults, $8 children, 12 and under; troltey dinnertheater pack" age for groups of 20 $18.50 A $12.50 children 12 and under. For more information, phone (402) 944-2523. Play, "Pippin," Nebraska Theatre Car van, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Saturday and Thursday, 2 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Mainstage, Omaha Community lv, 6915 Cass Omaha. Tickets: $24w adults, $12 students Friday-Saturday; $21iu--adults, $10 students Sunday, Thursday, Phone (402) 553-0800 or 800-964-0990. Concert "Marilyn Manson, 7:30 p.rn.

Saturday, Mancuso Convention Hall, Oma- ha Civic Auditorium, 1804 Capitol Omaha. Tickets: $20 in advance, $22.50. day of show. I Concert, All City Music Festival, p.m. Saturday, Omaha Civic Auditorium, 1804 Capitol Omaha.

Tickets: $4 adults, $2 students. Choral Concert, Madrigal Singers, CorP' cert Choir, Misty Blues Show Choir, 3 p.m. Sunday, College Theatre, Peru State lege campus, Peru. Concert, Doane College concert band and Crete High School band, directed by Jay Gilbert and Robert Palensky, 3 p.m.. Sunday, Heckman Auditorium, Doane Col- lege campus, Crete.

Concert, Black and Gold Series, Ser- Babayan, classical pianist, 8 p.rrr.mK uesday, Ramsey Theatre, Wayne State College campus, Wayne. Tickets: $5m. adults, $3 students. Phone (402) 375-7517. Concert, Foxy Brown, featuring DJ Kicfn Capri, "Diamonds in the Rough," S-Sense and Skins, 8 p.m.

Tuesday, Mancuso Con1 vention Hall, Omaha Civic -1804 Capitol Omaha. Tickets: $13 advance, $1 5.50 day of show. Recital, Aeolian II, David Edris, trum pet, Thomas Ediger, piano, 8 p.m. Thurs-m day, Benford Recital Hall, Jindra Fine Arts-; Center, Peru State College, Peru. Concert, "Symphony Masterworks, "Celebrate Brahms," Omaha Symphony1 Orchestra, 8 p.m.

Thursday, Orpheumun Theater, 409 S. 16th Omaha. Phone: (402)342-3560. Play, "Come Blow Your Horn," production by Cretahton University Depart-ment of Fine and Performing Arts, 8 p.m. Thursday, Studio Theatre, main floor, Lied Education Center for the Arts, 24th and Cass streets, Creighton University carrP.

pus, Omaha. Tickets: $5 general admisu sion, $3 studentssenior citizens. On stage Concert, "Gallery Walk Cabaret," jazz, 8-11 p.m. Friday, 7th Street Loft, 512 S. Seventh St.

A Wagon Train Project. Admission: $5. Concert, Juan Tejeda, 8 p.m. Friday, room 119, Westbrook Music Building, 11 th and streets. Tickets: $3, available at the door.

Play, "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" 7:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Thursday; 2 p.m. Sunday. Sunday will be described' for the visually impaired. Lincoln Community Playhouse, 2500 S.

56th St. Tickets: $18 adults, $7 students Sunday, Thursday; $20 adults, $8 students Friday, Saturday. For reservations or more information, phone 489-7529. Concert New Voices Series, Christian McBride Quartet and Joe Lovano Quartet, 8 p.m. Saturday, Lied Center for Performing Arts, 301 N.

12th St. Tickets: $24, $20, $16, half-price students. Nebraska Brass Friends, special guest the "Star City Brass," special guest conductor Robert Krueger, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, First Presbyterian Church, 840 S. 17th St.

Tickets: $10 adults, $7 senior citizens, $5 students. Concert, All City Vocal Solo Ensemble Night Lincoln Public Schools high schools, 7:30 p.m. Monday, auditorium, Southeast High School, 2930 S. 37th St. Concert, Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Court Choir, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, auditorium, Southeast High School, 2930 S. 37th St. Concert, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, auditorium, Lincoln High School, 2229 St. Concert, Kodo Drummers of Japan, 8 p.m.

Tuesday, Lied Center for Performing Arts, 301 N. 12th St. Tickets: $30, $26, $22, half-price students. Presentation, Tat Tuesday with Brass Jazz," doors open at 6 p.m., dinner begins at 7:30 p.m. with dancing p.m.

with jazz artists. Great Had, Lincoln Station, Seventh and streets. Tickets: $40 couples, $22.50 individuals. For information, phone 477-8222. Concert, Kimball Recital Series, New Arts Six, "Black Diva," 8 p.m.

Thursday, Kimball Recital Hall, 11th and streets. Phone 472-4747 for tickets. Plays, "All in the Timing," three vignettes by David Ives, directed by Heather Currie, 7 p.m. Thursday; immediately followed by "Patient directed by Miki Wigley, theatrix production, room 301, Temple Building, 12th and streets. Tickets $3.

Play, "Einstein: A Stage Portrait," directed by Paul Pearson, 8 p.m. Thursday, The Futz Theatre, Mission Arts Building, 124 S. Ninth St. Tickets: $5. Phone 435-6307 for reservations.

Dinner Theatre, "Romance Romance," show 7:30 p.m. Thursday with meals at 6 p.m., DownTown Dinner Theatre, Huey's, 245 N. 13th St. Tickets: $20 meal and show, $10 show only. Phone 477-9894 for reservations.

Nebraska Concert, First Friday Jam, Little Jimmy Valentine and the Heart Murmurs, p.m. Friday, atrium, Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge Omaha. Tickets: $3 members, $5 public. Comedy concert, "unplugged and in concert," comedian Basile, 8 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, Funny Bone Comedy Club, 705 N.

114th Omaha. For reservations phone 4934036. Nebraska Braes A Friends, special guests the "Star City Brass," special guest conductor Robert Krueger, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Morning Star Lutheran Church, 331 S. 85th Ave.

Tickets: $10 adults, $7 senior citizens, $5 students. Concert, "Songs You've Heard Before," UNL Scarlet and Cream Singers, directed by Paula Baack, 7:30 p.m. Friday, cs MIDNIGHT SALE Hi FH 174 Llrrt -Stent Una HntM tan, lasti Hit 1 1, mcita it ALSO AVAILABLE 21197: MOSY ANIMAl WCHTt DAVID BOWII (AftTHUNC Erylcah Badu AOUIZM Hi 1U 3U 1.