The Star-Democrat from Easton, Maryland • Page 26

7rV r-7- Page 6D The Star-Democrat Friday, February 4, 1994 1 1 CP (i. 1 i "ACE VENTURA, PET DETECTIVE" (PG-13) (Unre-viewed) This low-budget comedy stars Jim Carey, who plays the reverse-Garrett Morris role on TV's "In Living Color." Carey can be funny, in a dorky sort of way, but the vehicle doesn't sound promising. At the Tred Avon Square Movies 4, Easton, 7:30 and 9:10 p.m. nightly; weekend matinees at 2:30 p.m. "COOL RUNNINGS" (PG) (Fair) This heavily fictionalized account of the Jamaican Olympic bobsled team's inauspicious debut at the 1988 Winter Olympics has been accused of playing fast and loose with the facts and of borderline minstrel-show-type racism.

John Candy plays a former gold medalist who recruits and trains a team made up of failed sprinters, who experience bone-chilling cold and oug-eyed terror hurtling down the hills of Calgary. At the Dorchester Square Movies, Cambridge, 7:30 p.m. and 9:20 p.m. nightly; weekend matinees at 2:30 p.m. "GRUMPY OLD MEN" PG-13) (Fair) Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau and Ann-Margaret star in this love-triangle comedy that's strictly by the numbers.

Lemmon and Matthau play John and Max, longtime neighbors and enemies who like nothing more than to torment each other with infantile practical jokes. Their daily round of fishing and watching TV is interrupted by Ariel (Ann-Margaret), a free spirit who spouts new-age jargon and paints dreadful art. This movie is amiable, but unremarkable. None of it the fate of her twin girls after she left them by the side of the road. June (Ming-Na Wen) has lost her mother Suyuan (Kieu Chinh) without realizing the hope and love she had for her.

It's only through this exercise of venturing into her mother's past that she finally understands the power of her mother's love and her high expectations for the future. At the Dorchester Square Movies, Cambridge, 7 and 9:40 p.m. nightly; weekend matinees at 2 p.m. "JURASSIC PARK" (PG-13) -(Good) Steven Spielberg is at his best and worst in this thriller about genetically re-engineered dinosaurs running amok. The dinosaurs are better than any others ever on film, but the kids are too wisecrackingly cute for words and the characters rarely seem to have a sense of danger, much less terror, in the midst of the giant lizards.

The thrilling adventure, ominous edge and cautionary tale crafted in Michael Crichton's best-selling novel have been homogenized by Spielberg into a sappy and mean-, ingless little joyride. At the Dorchester Square Movies, Cambridge, 7:10 and 9:50 p.m. nightly; weekend matinees at 2:10 p.m. "MALICE" R) (Fair) Though it has its moments, this suspense thriller boasts a plot more twisted than taut, and veers all too frequently into self-parody. It's set in the kind of place where Andy (Bill Pullman), the associate dean of a small college, and his non-salaried young wife (Nicole Kidman) can afford to buy a large Victorian house, while Jed (Alec Baldwin), one of the most brilliannt surgeons in the country, is content to live as a lodger on the couple's top floor, it's also the kind of place where, though a serial rapist has been attacking students, no suspicion has fallen on a creepy-looking caretaker who lives in a "Psycho -esque maze of tunnels under the college.

At the Dorchester Square Movies, Cambridge, 7:20 and 9:30 p.m. nightly; weekend matinees at 2:20 p.m. "MRS. DOUBTFIRE" (PG-13) (Good) This "Tootsie take-off is prime Robin Williams material, based on the premise that an estranged husband, with makeup, wig and padding, could masquerade as a doughty English nanny and fool his wife and children. It takes a real artist to pull it off, and Williams qualifies, as a divorcee who blows his visitation rights and can see only one solution: hire on as housekeeper-nanny.

With makeup help from his gay brother (Harvey Fierstein), and his own powers of mimicry. Williams becomes Mrs. Doubtfire, who has a sweet manner but tart tongue, ready with wholesome aphorisms and common sense. Sally Field matches him ideally; her fits of exasperation recall the great Oliver Hardy. At the Tred Avon Square Movies 4, Easton, 7 and 9:40 p.m.

nightly; weekend matinees at 2 p.m. "SISTER ACT II" (PG) (Un-reviewed) Here's a chance to see if there are any more doo-wop songs with theological themes. Where the original had "I Will Follow Him," maybe this sequel, again starring Whoopi Goldberg, luck' for a buck Yu Fei Hong, third from right, plays Ying Ying, a young, upper-class woman who marries playboy Lin Xiao (Russell Wong, standing at left) in "The Joy Luck Club," now playing at the Dorchester Square Movies, Cambridge, which now offers second-run films at discount prices. acted and masterfully directed. The film tells the stories of four young Chinese-American women living in San Francisco and the hardships and tragedies their mothers endured before immigrating to the United States.

The tales are loosely knit around June's going-away party in which she is quietly inducted into her mother's mah-jongg circle. June's off to China to see the half-sisters her mother was forced to abandon as she fled the country. The mother, who recently died, never knew is very believable, but watching these veteran actors go through the motions is quite a comforting experience. Don't leave before the credits, which include the movie's best sequence, of "blooper" out-takes. At the Tred Avon Square Movies 4, Easton, 7:20 and 9:30 p.m.

nightly; weekend matinees at 2:20 p.m. "THE JOY LUCK CLUB" (R) (Excellent) This is filmmaking at its best: a wonderful story that transcends cultures. It is beautifully set and filmed, superbly Ms. jbtfin "WSbn SKn'. iCironw $3.2 nn ji'-c 1 Art' 7 "Schinuw Brief "The Pelican e.o; 7 li "Tombstone Moa million I Co Sourt will have "Baby Love" with a nativity theme.

At the Tred Avon Square Movies 4, Easton, 7:10 and 9:20 p.m. nightly; weekend matinees at 2:10 p.m. hankies too, as director of photography. for some lovely and stylish camera work. Tan, Wang and Ron Bass served as producers with Patrick Markey as co-producer.

Janet Yan and Oliver Stone were executive producers. The Buena Vista Pictures film is rated R. Motion Picture Association of America rating definitions: General audiences. All ages admitted. PG Parental guidance suggested.

Some material may not be suitable for children. PG-13 Special parental guidance strongly suggested for children under 13. Some material may be Inappropriate for young children, Restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian. NC-17 No one under 17 admitted.

ft ft ft ft tHr Club' a marvelous film, but bring your Here's a film that enriches the soul with its enchanting beauty and lyrical tales, a haunting story about the redeeming power of hope. that dominated best-seller lists in 1989. Simply put, "The Joy Luck Club" tells the stories of four young Chinese-American women living in San Francisco and the hardships and tragedies their mothers endured before immigrating to the United States. The tales are loosely knit around June's going-away party in which she is quietly inducted into her mother's mah-jongg circle. June's off to China to see the half-sisters her mother was forced to abandon as she fled the country.

The mother, who recently died; never knew the fate of her twin girls after she left them by the side of the road. June (Ming-Na Wen) has lost her mother Suyuan (Kieu Chinh) without realizing the hope and love she had for her. It's only through this exercise of venturing mother who has little emotional reserve left for her. And like the others, Lena is often unaware how desperately her mother wants her life to be better. The bitterness these women endure might sound like a bleak backdrop.

But it's just the opposite. Here's a film that enriches the soul with its enchanting beauty and lyrical tales. It's a haunting story about the redeeming power of hope. But bring a good supply of hankies just the same because "The Joy Luck Club" is a tear-jerker in the best sense of the word. Wang shou)4 be commended for eliciting truly tender and believable performances from aO eight women.

Each character rings true, making each story that much more powerful. Amir Mokri deserves credit, ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft 'Joy Luck By PATRICIA BIBBY Associated Press Writer Every once in a while a movie comes along that is so stirring and so moving that it stays with you long after it's over. Like a wonderful memory, it washes over your psyche for days and bathes it in some indescribable richness. "The Joy Luck Club" is just such a movie. This is filmmaking at its best: a wonderful story that transcends cultures.

It is beautifully set and filmed, superbly acted and masterfully directed. And it's no surprise when you consider those who are responsible for it; director Wayne Wang, known for "Chan Is Missing," "Dim Sum" and "Eat a Bowl of Tea," teamed up with writer Amy Tan to adapt her hugely popular novel of the same name Nor is movie easier good writing. It's just as hard to make a toilet seat as it is a castle window. But the vie i different BenHecht Qiii) sr. tit.it.

i- I 1 Nil)' I ii I i i l(M1j'i i I Mi ft Si trtiM't I 1- i The Chorus of the Nanticoke presents HARMONY HERITAGE the Silver Reunion Saturday, February 26, 1994 General Admission 9.00 8:00 p.m. Curtain Seaford High School picture on the cover of a magazine, Lindo proudly and haughtily walks up the street with the cover clutched to her chest so everyone can see her daughter's fame. An Mei (Lisa Lu) spent her childhood sticking up for her mother, who was horribly oppressed as a concubine, and becomes her daughter's advocate, too. Rose (Rosalind Chao) is caught in an unhappy marriage and is about to let Tier husband ruin her life. Lena (Lauren Tom), the daughter of Ying Ying (France Nuyen), goes through fife with a ft ft ft ft ft EAG'l ft V.

ft 4 ftj ftj- 4. ft HAVE 3k ft ft 1 VVi DINO BURGERS TYRANNOSAURUS SAURISCHIA QRMTTHISCHIA AND MANY AND EVERY LUNCH FUN WITH THE into her mother's past that she finally understands the power of her mother's love and her high expectations for the future. Similarly, the three other women of the mah-jongg club all have some secret from their homeland that has taught them profoundly harsh lessons. And each mother, like all mothers, wants to spare her child the pain she has had to bear. Undo (Tsai Chin) is the most outspoken and strong-willed of the women and pits her daughter, Waverly (Tamlyn Tomita), against June.

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