Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, May 21, 1994 TAG: 9405230112
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: B-12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By MIKE MAYO CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
For most viewers, the balance will be determined by their reaction to the stars. Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster and James Garner tapdance their way through fluffy material with apparently effortless ease. For Gibson and Garner, it's a familiar turn. Though Jodie Foster has been associated with more serious work, she's every bit as comfortable as her co-stars, and she's nothing less than drop-dead gorgeous.
Still, even with such a classy leading lady, two full hours of unrelieved cuteness is a lot to take.
William Goldman's script eventually arrives at The Big Poker Game. But it's a long and circuitous journey that revisits established Western set pieces - the runaway stage, the wagon train, the outlaws, the Indians, the lynching, the barroom brawl, the bank robbery, even Goldman's own bicycle scene from ``Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.'' In the last act, it's all wrapped up with several twists.
Our key players are Bret Maverick (Gibson) and Annabelle Bransford (Foster), professional gamblers and conpersons; Zane Cooper (Garner), no nonsense lawman; and Angel (Alfred Molina), all-purpose bad guy. Later, Chief Joseph (Graham Greene) and the Commodore (James Coburn) play important supporting roles. Throughout, the background is filled with dozens of familiar faces - from country music, old TV shows and other films - in cameo appearances.
Director Richard Donner, of the ``Lethal Weapon'' series, keeps the action moving at a moderately fast clip. He makes inventive use of some spectacular Western scenery - the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, the Columbia River gorge - and never lets logic or common sense intrude on his frivolous, almost cartoonish mood.
Of course, there is nothing wrong with lightweight escapism, particularly at this time of year, but ``Maverick'' really goes too far. The original television series based its humor on two things: first, a gentle spoofing of the Western stereotypes that filled popular culture in the late 1950s and early '60s; second, James Garner's easy-going screen presence.
In 1994, those stereotypes have mostly lost their influence on the public imagination, so any parody of them is an exercise in nostalgia. For better or worse, Gibson's interpretation of Garner's character is geared toward his own brand of comedy. It's a little snappier and more smart-alecky than Garner's, and that's probably just what his fans want to see.
The producers must hope that this one equals the box-office success of last summer's recycled TV hit, ``The Fugitive,'' but that's not likely. ``Maverick'' is simply too long and too light to bring audiences back for a second look.
Maverick **
A Warner Bros. release playing at the Salem Valley 8 and Tanglewood Mall. 120 minutes. Rated PG for strong language, some violence.
by CNB