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

DATE: SATURDAY, October 15, 1994                   TAG: 9411230068
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: B12   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: MIKE MAYO CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

DON'T BOTHER TAKING THE 'EXIT TO EDEN'

Director Garry Marshall is trying to do for sado-masochism what he did for prostitution in "Pretty Woman"; that is, to turn it into something light and frivolous and, finally, romantic.

This time, he misses the mark. The comedic side of the story is only fitfully funny, and the sexual side generates nervous laughter. It was obvious at a preview screening that the audience was uncomfortable at times, and simply didn't know how to react to key scenes. The cast seems to have had the same problem.

The love story revolves around Elliot Slater (Paul Mercurio) and Mistress Lisa (Dana Delaney). He's a photographer who has taken a picture of international jewel thieves. She is a professional dominatrix at a tropical island resort where Elliot has been sent by his psychiatrist (Hector Elizando).

The intentional comedy is provided by Fred Lavery (Dan Aykroyd) and Shiela Kingston (Rosie O'Donnell), L.A. cops on the trail of the jewel thief, via Elliot. These two straight arrows go to the island to find the crooks.

The film shifts back and forth between the two storylines, making a muddle of both.

Rosie O'Donnell does have a few snappy one-liners, but none are knockouts. More importantly, the humor undercuts the sexual material. Screenwriters Deborah Amelon and Bob Brunner make a feeble attempt to capture the eroticism of Anne Rice's novel. But the trappings of S&M - dog collars, leather outfits and such - lose their power when they're presented outdoors in bright sunshine. That's where much of the action takes place, though it shifts abruptly to New Orleans.

In the end, despite the subject matter and considerable nudity, "Exit to Eden" is a lot tamer than most of the "erotic thrillers" that show up in the video store each month.

Exit to Eden 1/2*

A Savoy Pictures release playing at the Valley View Mall 6. 110 min. Rated R for subject matter, nudity, strong language, mild violence.