Friday, January 16, 1998
Screenscene
"Fallen"
Directed by Gregory Hoblit
Starring Denzel Washington, John Goodman and Donald
Sutherland
It’s not very often that you see something new in Hollywood,
especially in the cop movie genre. But "Fallen" tries its best
to
Stephanie Sheh
Grade: B+
"Half Baked"
Directed by Tamra Davis
Starring Dave Chappelle, Jim Breuer, Guillermo Diaz and Harland
Williams
Smoke pot. Smoke pot. Everybody smoke pot.
Though you cannot necessarily tell it from the trailers,
Universal’s marijuana film, "Half Baked," is one pretty damn funny
movie. Not only does it push the boundaries of good taste, but hey
it’s a movie about pot. What else can you want?
The story is about four reefer-smoking buddies, Thurgood (Dave
Chappelle), Brian (Jim Breuer), Scarface (Guillermo Diaz) and Kenny
(Harland Williams). One night, while Thurgood, Brian and Scarface
break out Billy Bong Thorton, Kenny goes out to buy soe snacks and
gets arrested. Now the other three slackers must set out to raise
money for their friend’s bail by starting their own reefer delivery
service. All is going well until some local dealer gets miffed. And
in between Thurgood has time to fall in love with, yes, you guessed
it, a girl named Mary Jane (Rachel True). Ironically she wants him
to choose between her and the reefer.
The cast pulls the story off really well. And althought it’s
really easy to overact in this type of film, they don’t. However,
there are moments with Williams, when one feels like the are
watching a cheesy kid’s comedy. Breuer is hilarious with his stoned
out face which he manages to keep throughout the entire film.
The cast is supported by a slew of cameos. You’ve got Snoop
Doggy Dogg, Jon Stewart, Janeane Garofalo, Steven Baldwin, Tommy
Chong, Willie Nelson and Bob Saget. Most which are playing potheads
trying to score some reefer from the boy’s delivery service. Aside
from the cameos, another highlight is the various film spoofs, from
"Dead Presidents" to "That Thing You Do" and "Jerry Maguire."
Director Tamra Davis uses visual gags to create the effect of
the numerous trips that the characters take. She also does a good
job of contrasting the colorful surreal hash world and the sterile
outside world, such as Thurgood’s workplace.
While the film may not have any serious lessons or messages to
impart. It’s willingness to take risks and pack the jokes make the
film extremely funny. And hey, did I mention it’s about pot?
Stephanie Sheh
Grade: A
Denzel Washington (left) and John Goodman star in "Fallen," a
film that twists and turns from cop drama to supernatural
thriller.