The Miami Herald from Miami, Florida • 61

WEEKEND WEEKEND Twenty-One too dark for genre By BILL COSFORD Herald Movie Critic In Twenty-One, independent filmmaker Don Boyd gives us a glimpse of a personality so cynical about life and love that her dysfunction erodes the film, like an acid drip. She's Katie, a transplanted Londoner who's 21 and already pretty much fed up with everything. As the story begins, Katie is sitting on the john and addressing the camera with her MOVIE REVIEW tale of mild woe; TWENTY-ONE (R) she remains similarly unfazed for Cast: Patsy Kensit, Jack Shepherd, 100 minutes, Patrick Ryecart, Maynard Eziashi, Rufus until the story Sewell. ends in much the Director: Don Boyd. same way.

In Producers: Morgan Mason, John between, largely Hardy. in flashback, Screenwriters: Zoe Heller, Don Boyd. Katie recaps her, Cinematographer: Keith Goddard. sexual misadvenMusic: Michael Berkeley. tures, which A Triton Pictures release.

Running time: include a wither100 minutes. Vulgar language, nudity, adult ing flirtation with themes. a bridegroom at his own wedding and her hot pursuit of an addict (Rufus Sewell) who comes to seem the best of a bad lot. Boyd doubtless intended Twenty-One to play as dark comedy, but Katie is so self-centered you dislike her even when you're laughing with her she's no comic nightmare, merely a bad dream, and there are precious few moments in the film when she seems worth the trouble. But Boyd does get some nice performances from his cast, including Kensit, heretofore best-known as the short-lived love interest opposite Mel Gibson in Lethal Weapon 2.

Kensit is quite lovely in her chiseled, icyblonde way. Here, her looks seem to conspire with the script to make a character of exceptional coldness. Twenty-One is funny, even at its most aloof. And it accomplishes the signal feat of rendering Kensit's sex scenes both visually striking and utterly joyless. THE CYNIC: Played by Patsy Kensit.

THE BRIDEGROOM: THE TROUBLED Played by Patrick ADDICT: Played by Ryecart. Rufus Sewell. HIAOW HIAOW 'CROSSING THE LINE' Liam Neeson thinks he coulda been a contenda WISHING TIME: That's Want for Christmas, Leslie Nielsen under the a tale of kids who want to beard, talking to Thora Birch reunite their estranged parents. Christmas is beguiling A predictable plot is wonderfully executed By LEONARD PITTS Jr. Herald Arts Writer What a charming, sweet-natured little fable this is warm and funny but smart, too.

All I Want For Christmas is that rare bit of family fare that tickles the tykes but entertains the older set at the same time. Don't be fooled by the movie's posters, showing two kids hanging Santa Claus upside down in a snare of tinsel and Christmas lights in an apparent extortion attempt. It's a dumb poster that doesn't come close to capturing the spirit of the film. All I Want For Christmas is about Santa Claus and wishes, about believing in a miracle and giving it a in the seat of the pants as needed. Yes, the film is at times manipulative and, especially toward the end, far-fetched.

But it is such a beguiling piece of entertainment that you willingly forgive its faults and happily go along for the ride. The wise kids The movie tells the tale of 13-year-old Ethan O'Fallon and his 7-year-old sister, Hallie. Their parents have divorced and worse, mom is planning to marry a smarmy, kid-hating businessman but the kids (wise in these matters as kids sometimes are) know that mom and dad still love each other. Hallie, in particular, is obsessed with getting her folks back together in time for the as Hallie, in All MOVIE REVIEW ALLIWANT FOR CHRISTMAS (G) Cast: Ethan Randall, Thora Birch, Kevin Nealon, Leslie Nielsen, Lauren Bacall, Harley Jane Kozak and Jamey Sheridan. Director: Robert Lieberman.

Producers: Marykay Powell and Vicky Herman. Screenwriters: Thom Eberhardt and Richard Kramer. Cinematographer: Robbie Greenberg. Music: Bruce Broughton. A Paramount Pictures release.

Running time: 92 minutes. No objectionable material. holidays. And so she gets it in her head that Santa Claus can help. But, she reasons, you can't ask just any St.

Nick ringing a charity bell on the corner. "If you go to a fake," she says, "you won't get it. You gotta go to the real Santa at The film is full of nice little touches like that: It's a fantasy in the mold of Miracle On 34th Street but with a little '90s sass thrown in for good measure. Hallie's holiday greeting is "Merry Christmas Happy Hanukkah" because Grandma says you can't be too careful in New York. Ethan invites his young love interest to "lunch" food samples offered free at a local store.

An Asian man spoons raw fish onto their plates while repeating his motto: "Sushi for all occasions, sushi for every Winter wonderland Cinematographer Robbie Greenberg gives us a New York City (shot on Los Angeles streets and sound stages) that looks like a winter wonderland. And director Robert Lieberman extracts low-key performances from his cast. Young Thora Birch as Hallie manages to be cute but not oppressively so, and Ethan Randall (Ethan) shows a genuine comic flair. Lauren Bacall does a nice turn as the kids' elegantly acerbic grandmother, and Kevin Nealon is appropriately hissable in the largely unrewarding role of mom's boyfriend, Tony. Leslie Nielsen is unrecognizable in his Santa Claus makeup.

The outcome is never in doubt as the movie follows the kids' campaign to sabotage mom's current affair and get her back in dad's arms where she belongs. Still, the fun is in the little twists and turns taken in getting there. I took three young co-critics with me and afterward canvassed them for their opinions. Bryan, 6, liked Hallie's pet mouse. Marlon, 9, liked Hallie.

And Monique, 14, said it's the kind of movie that shows "you're never too old for Christmas you're never too old to believe in Santa Couldn't have put it better myself. but bareknuckles boxing in Scotland is a long way from a ring with a referee. 'STRICTLY BUSINESS' FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1991, THE Halle Berry is the MIAMI on the boymost woman meets-girl recent in this theme. take HERALD.