Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, February 16, 1991                   TAG: 9102160456
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: E-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: CHRIS GLADDEN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

`KING RALPH' RATES TWO BOWS

Once the plot is set in motion, there are precious few surprises. But it's so comfortably hokey that it's hard to really muster up much dislike for it.

At the outset, the British Royal family is electrocuted en masse through a fluke accident. Ha, ha.

The throne is apparently left without an heir. But diligent digging in the family tree of the Windham line reveals a distant heir.

The trouble is, he's an American but the English must have someone to wear the crown and at this point any warm body will do.

Played by John Goodman, the new king is named Ralph and he's a Vegas lounge performer. The comedy in this kind of movie is derived from culture clash and Ralph is the kind of slob who puts pinball machines in the royal bed chamber. He prefers strip joints to high tea and meets a fledgling stripper in one named Miranda (Camille Coduri). She's really just a decent lass whose brother and father are out of work and she quits the first night of her job. Ralph, of course, falls for her. Every story of this type has to have a snooty bad guy and in this case he's an odious nobleman with designs on the throne played by John Hurt. His plan is to use Miranda to create a scandal and discredit the new king.

Peter O'Toole is on hand to provide some finesse and dignity as Ralph's protocol adviser.

Goodman is kind of likable as the vulgarian who grows into the crown. This is clearly a vehicle designed to expand Goodman's trademark amiable lug from a supporting player to a star. As such, it's undistinguished. Director-screenwriter David S. Ward's visual style barely achieves competency and the very idea and execution are outdated. In this case, saying that the result is harmless is high praise.

"King Ralph" A Universal picture at Valley View Mall 6 (362-8219) and Salem Valley 8 (389-0444). Rated PG for language; 100 min.