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

DATE: SATURDAY, August 27, 1994                   TAG: 9409010046
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By PHILIP WUNTCH DALLAS MORNING NEWS
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

WHOOPI GETS A CHANCE TO BE DIGNIFIED

In this romantic drama, Ray Liotta obviously enjoys playing nice, and Whoopi Goldberg relishes the chance to act dignified. It's up to you to decide whether you prefer Whoopi wise or wacky.

Goldberg plays Corrina Washington, a college graduate who handily quotes Gertrude Stein and knowingly discusses Erik Satie's ``Trois Gymnopedies.'' She's highly qualified, but Corrina is a black woman living in 1959: She earns her paycheck working as a maid.

She's not only intelligent but intuitive, a quality that wins her a position with Manny Singer (Liotta). Manny is that newest screen staple - the widowed dad. His beloved wife has died of cancer, and his 7-year-old daughter, Molly (the remarkable Tina Majorino, who shined in ``When a Man Loves a Woman'' and also stars in the new seal tale ``Andre''), is mute with grief. Corrina has trouble cooking or driving and hates housework, but her humor and forthrightness make a visible impression on silent Molly.

In the manner of an old-fashioned sitcom heroine, Corrina makes everything right in the Singer household.

Goldberg is automatically likable, and Liotta just seems thrilled not to be playing a gangster, a convict or a maniac. As a romantic lead and befuddled dad, he's entirely convincing.

But Majorino delivers the most memorable performance. The screenplay, which largely treats her character with an admirable lack of condescension, falters by making her conventionally cute toward the end. She even manages that feat without provoking grimaces.

The film was written, directed and produced by Jessie Nelson in her feature debut. It's obviously a heartfelt experience, based on Nelson's memories of the housekeeper who helped raise her after her own mother died.

``Corrina, Corrina'' is written, directed and acted from the heart. As such, you can forgive it a lot, but ultimately, you only have to forgive it a little.

Corina, Corinna

** 1/2

A New Line Cinema release playing at Valley View Mall 6. Rated PG.