Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 4

4 4-J iL ri rt .4 ssw V. f4 DO IT AGAIN!" Shenzi America, sleep tight i The safety of the free world is in his hands. 4D DETROIT FREE PRESS FRIDAY, AUGUST 12, 1994 I Mom, son have a family affair i SPANKING, from Page ID ruining their children's lives. Indeed, Susan Aibelli (Alberta Watson) should be the last person her son, Raymond (Jeremy Davies) just home from his freshman year at MIT loves at all. Bedridden with a cast up to her mid-thigh, Susan has a compound fracture that sidelines Raymond's big-time summer internship with the Surgeon General's office in Washington, D.C.

Entrapped by his extraordinarily manipulative parents, Raymond grudgingly settles into what's bound to be the worst summer of his life, one that puts his entire future in jeopardy. His father, a traveling motivational videotape salesman, demands that Raymond brush his dog's teeth and never touch the Cadillac. His mother, who insists on being helpless, needs Raymond to change her bedpan, mix her gin and tonics and practically bathe her. When she finally does creep out of her drug-induced depression it's only to harangue him with questions about his personal life you sleep with or criticize the work that will solidify his premed goals. Bored, Raymond develops a doomed relationship with a naive high schooler, Toni (Carla Gallo), and tries to hang with the small-town friends he's long outgrown.

When Raymond finally does sleep with his mother in a tasteful, subtly constructed scene it relieves some of the tedium for both of them, but it doesn't come close to resolving their problems Ray's sexual frustration and postadolescent angst, Susan's deep well of loneliness and regret at giving up her medical school dreams to marry her mostly absent husband. Initially disgusted by the act, Raymond scrubs himself nearly raw. Then the experience seems to liberate him. He sets the dumb dog with the bleeding gums free, drives his father's car with abandon and finally takes a toke on that joint his slacker friends have been offering him since high school. It's not enough.

Because soon it THE Lion king nrmnn IGTGINEUL AUDIENCES ham 1 I PG I PARENTAL GUiDAHCE SUGGESTED 1 Km mawi mt wot mm oiitwa HOUtTOIOTMre STARTS TODAY IViIH Vj GtED f.y iiiiiaLd j1.1!1!1 TRIPS? CHECK DIRECTORY I 1 I 1 FOR SHOWTIMES II II NO PASSES OR COUPONS ACCEPTED. I I la 505 I josl tamiBiffliffli mi "A MEi FOR IDE lUTIEiE FAMILY! 'The Little Rascals' will steal your heart a fun summer comedy' -Jim Ferguson, FOX-TV LITTLE RASCALS' IS HILARIOUS!" -Ua QuinonM, FOX KIDS COUNTDOWN becomes blindingly clear that for Raymond to live his own life he must drastically sever himself from the twisted, dysfunctional lives of his parents. Sure, more than a few will wince when Raymond angrily rips open his mother's blouse or tries to kiss her full on the lips just before he attempts to choke her. Still, Russell's film owes more to "The Graduate" than "Oedipus Rex." Also, the film's somber subject matter is brightened by the crafty direction razor-sharp editing, snarky camera angles, close-up detail shots. And Raymond's charming innocence, nicely underplayed by novice actor Davies, will prompt more compassion than malice.

"A SUCCESSFUL BLEND OF SOPHISTICATION AND AFFECTION! It is the work of a distinctive filmmaker whose work is always worthy of -Kevin Thomas, 10S ANGELES TIMES "WHAT A TREAT! 'The Little Rascals' are back and better than ever!" -lob Hoaly, SATELLITE MUSIC NETWORK "A THOUSAND LAUGHS! A comedy hitl You'll want to be a rascal too!" Ron rowlngton, AMERICAN URBAN RADIO "PURE, UNADULTERATED FU1I!" -Carria Rickey, PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER SUSAN SARANDON TOMMY LEE IONES TMfJ 4 1 -vv "A film of hammering suspense that keeps you riveted in its spell. Susan Sarandon is unforgettable." Rei Reed. NEW YORK OBSERVER "A powerhouse! Chilling. Riveting. Joel Schumacher works wonders.

"The Client' commands breathless attention from start to Swan Granger. CRNAMERICAN MOVIE CLASSICS "A grade-A thriller. Thoroughly satisfying entertainment." kit Crail, SIXTY SECOND PREVIEW "You'll be hooked to the point of nail-nibbling." Ouy Plelley, COSMOPOLITAN "The most enjoyable Hollywood picture since 'The Fugitive'." John Pom. VOGUE "Top-notch entertainment! Crammed full of action and edge-of-your-seat suspense. A masterful performance by Tommy Lee Jones." PmI Wonder.

WBA1 RADIO "The best thriller of the summer! Fast-paced and exciting!" Pit UlKlttromWNBC -TV "A stunning, suspense-filled movie that will keep you riveted to the screen." Julet PeiUKr, WNWK RADIO "A riveting, masterful, suspense filled thriller." Ntil tovn. NY I NEWS "Taut, gripping and emotional. This movie's got it all." louina Lanifltld. THE MOVIE MINUTE ri momwr Taiw I 'iniiiiiliWiM mTmi THE Client Fhom Tut Bbtseiuig Aithou Of THE FIRM and THE PELICAN BRIEF 'HmMMu mw NOWPLAYING I amcabbeyTII americanawewI amc belairio AMC LAUREL PAFjKjl amcSQUTHFIELD CITY amc STERLING CTR.10 AMC WONDERLAND BEACON EASTrjl cinemas NOVI TOWN! SHOWCASE Offff SHOWCASE dearborn SHOWCASE Po'gj SHOWCASE SHOWCASE westlandt STAR grattotatismile STARUNC0LNPARK8 I STAR TAYLOR II STAR Winchester II N0PASSES flfa jD ORCOUPONS WEST RIVER FORD WYOMING drivein MT. CLEMENS drive-in MjS ACCEPTS) IM4 1 M'i I I'Y'l Kim I III III I'MIUI MOVIE GUIDE FORhtfiOWTIMES.