The Atlanta Constitution from Atlanta, Georgia • 137

WEEKEND PREVIEW a Friday, May 19, 1995 P5 The Atlanta Journal The Atlanta Constitution fill Jn a tropical paradise, a beautiful young woman is about to discover a passionate love she never imagined. "A Sumptuous Love Story Set In A Tropical Paradise!" -Brandon Judell, RMELY SBiSE TIISE lil'E I FELT 8CK1 KSIO STGr.IES H2 GBEERfllSIS! Roger EMrt, CHICAGO SUN-TIKS c' The rebellious Jimmy (Jimmy Smits) falls in love with Isabel (Elpidia Carrillo) in "My Family." ICTURE BRIDE ESAI MORALES JIMMY SUITS EDjMS0LM0S MXJF4M1LY; HiATOMrorouriNiwMcm -uvEiuiivuiuuiiu- nuuvsum tulMnttlKumFiminiiMKOIMIK FRAKC1S FORD COPPOLA GUY EAST TOM LUDDT A Film By Kayo Hattd cn ifgflp eggjg.jg!iggs STARTS TODAY! S3SSi TGREGORVNAVAt ANNATHOMJS Starts UNITED ARTISTS GWINNETT Gwinnett Mat AMC THFATRFS AMC THEATRES PHIPPS PnchlTM Rd MANSELL CROSSING 14 7730 North Point PLAZA 14 Ijnox Rd. 6I6-K ON THE ROAD AGAIN? Plan your next vacation with Travel. LUSIAlJiL-iLW UUib (XJjaiLLHJJ CJjwyiiiB J. 1 New Line Cinema HIT "My Family" Starring Jimmy Smits.

Directed by Gregory Nava. Rated for violence, language and brief nudity. At metro theaters. Ratings range from one to four stars. 151 MMW Children of the corn.

iltililili ICT. iiiiiyif mm IS 1 h'ri1 i iirri' W'4 WBAI RADIO "Highly Sensual!" -Kevin Thomas, LOS ANGELES TIMES "'Picture' Perfect!" -NEW YORK POST "TWO Thumbs Up!" -SISKEL 4c EBERT WINNER-AUDIENCE AWARD 1995 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL 5:25 7:30 9:35 iwr. I'M A i III! 1 41tV69U My Family' is saga of Latino clan By Eleanor Ringel FILM EDITOR nee upon a time in the East East L.A., that is there lived a family named Sanchez. "My Family," directed by Gregory Nava of "El Norte" fame, is their story a sprawling multigener-ational saga that spans six decades in the life of a Mexican-American family. Part one, set in the '20s, shows how the family patriarch, Jose (Jacob Vargas) left his Mexican village as a teenager, intending to live with his great uncle in Los Angeles.

Told that Los Angeles is far, far away, Jose figures it'll take him two whole weeks to get there. A year later, he finally ar rives. He gets a job as a gardener the movie is quite shrewd in its depiction of a Latino underclass who work as gardeners, nannies, kitchen help, etc. and falls for a lovely housekeeper, Maria (Jennifer Lopez). The two marry and start to raise a family.

But problems arise when the au thorities go on a deportation jag, sending anyone of Mexican heri tage, citizen or not, back across the border. Jump ahead to the late '50s. Jose and Maria (Eduardo Lopez Rojas and Jenny Gago) have a tumbling brood of six kids. Most noticeable are Toni (Constance Marie) who wants to be a nun and Chucho (Esai Morales), a hothead drawn to the gang life. Remember "West Side In the final section, it's the '80s and another son, the lious Jimmy (Jimmy Smits, showing us what star power is all about), has already spent some time in prison.

Toni, who's trad ed her nun's habit for activist togs, convinces Jimmy that it would be a political act to marry a young woman (Elpidia Carrillo) who's in danger of being sent back to Guatemala and cer tain death. The movie is narrated by yet another son (Edward James 01- mos), an aspiring writer. There's also a son who becomes a lawyer and a daughter whose sole char acter trait seems to be that she's fat. Though well-meaning and well-acted (especially by Smits), "My Family" is as shamelessly corny as a mariachi band at your local mall. The last segment is the best, so much so that one wishes Nava had left out the first two parts and concentrated on fleshing out the third section.

As is, the overall effect is of a bunch of simple-minded, good-hearted folk a Hollywood Hispanic cli che that calls to mind those farm ers who need Yul Brynner and Steve McQueen to rescue them in "The Magnificent Seven." Read more of Eleanor Ringel'i and Steve Murray i movie reviews on your comput er. Information, Page A2. Ijflembers, jump: tnttrtainmtm. 816-4262 633-U2U Check Movie Directory SlSiilillilllli VI -tANNATHOMAS "GMGOI0(NA NEW UNS CINEMA Todayl STOREY'S SHANNON OA.i3eei-5S, STOflETS TOWN 12 Town Center MCdbl 426 5400 For Showtlmes FOR SHOmiEf.ES. PLEASE CHECK: THE MOVIE DIRECTORY OR CALL THEATRES FEATURED AT SELECT THEATRES COBB PLACE 8 MERCHANTS WAIX" I AAAT TVCATOt GFNffRAL CINEMA r5 oAfrRciT PRWY NW 11 WTOU" rati 8164262 VI-I4IU Bran CIMSMAS AMC THFATTIrS PEACHTRH CNRS KOtiHAKEFBll: 6135 PEACHTREE FKWY 4043 LAVtSTA R0 UNITTO ARTBTS rViDTCWN CINEMAS I 931 MONROE AVE STOMYS NATIONAL 7 1 UU0L9rWIUNAiHWr 762-9636 872-6100 PHIPPS PIAZA 14 UHB miul a 3500 FCACHTRtE KD nni4in.3uuinurKH 8164262 955-1795 GENERAL CINEMA KOA1 CINEMAS i' sandy snos a ywsA ieqal CK MA 10 851-1890 514-1824 STCSCY'S SHANNON 7 GA 138 6 SOUTH UNITED ARTISTS ROSWEIL MAIL oMHaCOMBKilxTRD 998-1700 969-0606 RFOAl CINFMAS CINFPIEXODEON SOUIWAKtrlSTV IJMSOUMAttrliWl 986-5050 UKHfkWSAIKIIU, ADSTEURDHOYDtHUn 438-2274 GENERAL CINfMA HAIRSTONVIUI WMiMDItrlAKKlNIO STOREY'S DELK 10 2854 Dt IK RO.

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