Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, January 14, 1994 TAG: 9401140110
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By MIKE MAYO CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
All things considered, stars Kid 'N Play (Christopher Reid and Christopher Martin) acquit themselves better than most pop stars who try to re-create their recording success in movies. They're comfortable in front of the camera, and their improvisational style is appropriate for loose, unstructured comedy.
This time out, much of the work is handled by supporting characters, and one of them steals the movie.
The premise is familiar: Kid's about to get married and is having second thoughts. His fiancee Veda's (Angela Means) family doesn't like him, and he's wondering if he's really ready to settle down and get a job. After all, he and Play are semi-successful record producers, though they're in trouble with promoter Showboat (Michael Colyer) over money and the girl group Sex As A Weapon (played by the girl group TLC).
Then there are Kid's mischievous prepubescent nephews (played by prepubescent rappers Immature), and his blustering Uncle Vester (Bernie Mac). Mac stands in for the late comedian Robin Harris who played Kid's dad in the first film, and his impression is just as memorable. Mac is loud, bawdy, aggressive and really funny. The film springs to life whenever he shows up.
Takashi Bufford's script is a collection of loosely connected bits and pieces; some truthful and humorous, some not. One complaint: the repeated use of raw racial epithets, even among black characters, is out of place in this kind of comedy. Director Eric Meza, making his debut after a career in music videos keeps the action moving quickly and maintains a light tone throughout.
In the end, "House Party 3" is true to the spirit of the original without adding anything new to it.
House Party 3: **
A New Line release playing at the Valley View Mall 6. Rated R for strong language, sexual comedy and content, brief nudity.
by CNB