Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, July 12, 1990 TAG: 9007120376
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: E6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CHRIS GLADDEN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
After all, the movie's star is stand-up comic Andrew Dice Clay, who has been reviled by sensitive people everywhere. I am unfamiliar with Clay's comic routines but I am aware of the indignation Clay has provoked through his apparent insensitivity.
If his character in the movie is a reflection of Clay on stage, his persona is apparently that of the Fonz with a trash mouth.
He seems to be a walking self-parody of the kind of Neanderthal attitude that many rightfully find so offensive. I'm surprised anyone would take him seriously.
Unfortunately, the movie goes overboard in its determination to exploit this cloddishness and the controversy surrounding Clay. I kept thinking that it would have been a pretty good little private eye spoof had it not tried to capitalize so much on Clay's sexually explicit jokes.
The movie itself is more deft than its star and breezier than a lot of the over-inflated summer movies. Be warned, however. It's recommended mainly to those who are not offended by extremely vulgar language and visual jokes and who also have a passing interest in rock 'n' roll.
As well as a spoof on the California detective story, it's a parody on the record industry with venal executives, air-headed groupies, manufactured teen idols, shock DJs and extravagantly choreographed heavy metal stars.
Clay plays Fairlane, the rock 'n' roll detective who specializes in cases in the music industry. Like most such detectives, he's broke and he has a fetching assistant - this time played by Lauren Holly.
In the sensitive, smoke-free '90s, Fairlane is an arrogant, leering, chain-smoking throwback apparently desired by every woman on the planet including his assistant. He's called in on a missing persons case and the story that ensues uses most of the conventions of the West Coast private eye genre.
Directed by Rennie Harlin from a screenplay by a trio of writers, "Ford Fairlane" has its share of bad jokes compensated by some good comic performances from supporting players who outshine Clay.
The best is delivered by Maddie Corman as the blissfully dim-witted groupie, ZuZu. Holly is engaging as the loyal assistant and Gilbert Gottfried is maniacally loathsome as the most despised DJ in L.A. Also on hand to apparently provide a bizarre, John Waters dimension to the proceedings are Priscilla Presley, Wayne Newton and Robert (Freddy Krueger) Englund.
With its rock in-jokes and its blatant vulgarity, "Ford Fairlane" is a candidate for midnight-movie cult status.
`The Adventures of Ford Fairlane' A Twentieth Century-Fox release at Valley View Mall 6 (362-8219) and Salem Valley 8 (389-0444). Rated R for extremely rough language, mostly of a sexual nature and for violence. An hour and 50 minutes.
by CNB