Chicago Tribune from Chicago, Illinois • 125

Chicago Tribune. Friday. July 1, 1988 Section 7 A Friday Flick of Week: Murphy's acting wins in 'America' ur Flick of the Week is Eddie Murphy's surprisingly gentle and effective comedy "Coming to America," in which Murphy throws away his angry, smart-aleck persona in favor of a more genteel, soul-searching funny man. As he proved so many times on "Saturday Night Live," Murphy is an actor as well as a comic, and he is equal to the transformation required by this script He plays an African prince who rebels against OWalt Disney Productions Donald Duck debuted in 1934's The Wise Little Hen." CWalt Disney Production Mickey Mouse made his bow in 1928's "Steamboat Willie." Mamie tttal Tooim 'Roger Rabbit' a who's who of cartoon favorites the wishes ot his tathcr (James Earl Jones) to enter into a forced marriage, so he is allowed to spend 40 days in New York City to "sow his wild oats" and then, presumably, he has to marry his father's choice. In America, along with his loyal servant Semmi (Arsenio Hall), Murphy has no intention of being a runabout He is a seeker of truth and beauty and finds By Tricia Drevets ickey Mouse parachuting with Bugs Bunny.

Donald Duck tickling the ivories with Daffy Duck. These are Saturday mornings in front of the television watching these familiar friends. Steven Spielberg personally negotiated for the film rights to cartoon characters owned by studios other than Disney. And it seems it was the clout of his name in the industry and nothing less that made the historic appearances a reality on film. "Steven played a direct role in lining up the other characters," notes Marvin Levy, a Los Angclcs-bascd marketing consultant for Amblin Entertainment.

"He was the one who made the initial contact with the other studios. His name and involvement was often all they needed to be assured the project was a good one and that if they lent their characters to the film, it would be done right." Levy says the "Roger" producers were able to purchase the rights to just about all the cartoon stars they wanted for the film with the exceptions of Popeye, Felix the Cat and a few others. According to Levy, an across-the-board stipulation by the film compa- See Cartoon, PR. two of the one-time-only pairings of classic cartoon characters from different studios that make cameo appearances in this summer's blockbuster, "Who Framed Roger Rabbit." The film features realistic interactions between animated characters and real-life actors and actresses. "Roger Rabbit," a $40 million-plus cooperative effort of Disney's Touchstone Pictures and Steven Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment, not only introduces a new animated star in the form of Roger but it features as Roger's neighbors in Toontown some of America's best-known and best-loved cartoon characters from the late 1940s, the time in which the film is set.

From the first moment we see lovable Dumbo the elephant hovering outside R.K. Maroon's office, our memories are jogged by the sight and sound of childhood favorites. To the little ones in the audience, the sight of Yosemite Sam, Tweety Pie or Woody CWirrnr Bros. Cartoon Inc. Sylvester came from Warner Bros.

Woodpecker may not mean much. While they're entranced with Roger, Jessica and Benny the Cab, their parents can happily recall weekend matinees at the theater or marathon what he's looking for in the body and soul of the daughter (Shan Headley) of a fast-food entrepreneur (John Amos). The running gag, of course, is that Murphy docs not tell his would-be princess that he is of royal blood. Instead he adopts the pose of a poor African student to make sure that their love is true. It's a sweet, oft-told story, and Murphy and Hall add a number of very sharp supporting roles hidden by makeup to add spice to the general level of gentleness.

"Coming to America" is playing at the Broadway, Chestnut Station, Woods and outlying theaters. Rated R. Vt Flicks Picks guide New this week BABETnrS FEAST (Fine Arts). A strangely powerful yet meandering Mm that takes long time to make Its point In late 19th Century rural Denmark, a mysterious Parisian woman comes 10 worti as housekeeper tor two ekjeriy. uptight daughters ot the town's clergyman.

She keeps her place until she asks the ladies If she can prepare them a special meal. It turns out that the housekeeper once was a great chef In Pans, and Via least she prepares represents the work of someone working to their Mast powers stark contrast to the cloistered lives of the older women. By the end. It's a strangely moving film about talents and used and not used. The Mm won the Oscar this year as Best Foreign Language turn In Danish and French with English subtmes.

Q. BIO (Water Tower and outlying). Another one of those boy-trapped-inside-a-man s-body oomecass, which is not be contused with those msn-trappedHnside-e-boy's-body comedies. Tom Hanks stars as a 13-year-old boy who gets Ns wish to become a tagger boy. a 30-year-old man.

Before you continue groaning, you might want to know that Hanks proms himself to be an adept comedian here, much the same way that Judge RemhokJ saved the ekntarty themed Vice And "Big is at Us best when romance blooms at a toy company where Elizabeth Perkins About Last Night) Is an executive and Hanks has become a star vice president with his innocent approach to picking best-ssmg toys. Not a major movie but a pleasing one. "Big is more successful at what It wants to be than, say, YHknT Is. PO. BIO BUSINESS (Btograph.

Water Tower and ouBytng). Hem's an ambmoua faros about two aets of mismatched tvwns (hat only works wefl when one of the four characters Is on the screen. Bette MkSer and LHy Toman star as twins unpaired and switched at earth. resuMng In dty twins In New York who own a oongtom-erata that runs a porch furniture manufacturing company In the mat West Vrgnt town where the country twins tve. When the conglomerate tries to set out tie town, the two sets of twine am pieced In conflct in New York.

The movie, however, spends mom time with skjht gaga Invohang majlalien Identify and near oot-kaions than It doea with ueveMJSiy each of the four cherecters. Only Bane Mtritor partem nanus as tie brassy boss of tie conglomerate la My aketched out The movie doss have a nunbar of btq laughs, but one Is aware ot missed opportunities as much as the fame successes. PQ. BULL DURHAM (Btograph, Water Tower and outlying). -Bull Durham a) a bright, fcaww, fjtaprieingty edut and Iterate ode to beeshel and to people who love the game.

Rookie wrT-6Tractar Bon ShaHon. a tormsr 'jtnM leagia) player, has wisely crafted a wonderful love triangle Mat would ptey ti any venue, tue case tw minor laaque beaebal town of Durhern, Susan Serandon -i V- 1 iiee) 1icki Picks, following page 'Da' takes a half-hearted tug at the heartstrings Da" arrives by way of a successful Broadway drama by Hugh Leonard. The movie version, directed by actor Matt Clark, preserves Barnard Hughes' much-praised performance in the title "Da" Dtrvcted by Malt Cfctrtt; VMttteMt toy HuQh Lontf ntnn play; photograptwd by AteW lOvtto; wMvd by Mancy Muttal Bwyda; fnuatc by Elnwc Safmrtaftt; pfodWcad by Jufta Corman. A fWmOH PtctunM Waa opana Mf 1 Fa Mm i ThT Hunntnq mm 1:42. MPAA rabnQi POL Strang Iboqimqv, aduN sMuttkms.

tx cast Da BatTsafll MuOiaa ChefSe Wtmim MM Orumm Wem Mickey Vouno Cheree 1 Mavdaa til i itO'Conar While father and son exchange recriminations and reminiscences, flashbacks open up to lead us into the great moments of their relationship: the time Da saved Charlie's dog from drowning; the time Da interrupted Charlie's attempt to lose his virginity to the town tramp; the time Da stood up to Ma and forbade her rendezvous with an old flame. The anecdotes are ambiguous and appear in no particular order, moving freely between proud memories of Da's heroism and burning recollections of his craven acceptance of his fate, between scenes from Charlie's boyhood (where he's played by Hugh O'Conor) and his young manhood (where he becomes Karl Haydcn). The sense slowly emerges that Charlie didn't like his dad much, though he feels he should have. A circle, pf accuse is torms around if. i rfi i i.

i role as a ncttlcsomc Irish ghost who Icadi nis emigrant son (Martin Sheen) on a tour of their shared past but it never achieves much independent stature as a film. Like many Broadway hits. tional McNuggets. The main flavor is guilt. Charlie (Sheen), a successful Broadway dramatist, is summoned home to Ireland on the eve of his latest opening; his 83-year-old father has died, and Charlie must attend to the arrangements.

As he shuffles through the old man's effects after the funeral. Da appears to frust rat ingly -optimistic, oABMtrtive and elusive as ne'-was in Da is an exercise in carefully controlled sentimcn-jtalttf--it exhorts the audience, to i "feel," but never loo intensely andV Incvcc wU.