Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, December 3, 1994 TAG: 9412220060
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: C-12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MIKE MAYO CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
It's a seasonal comic misfire about unbelievable characters caught up in an unrealistic tale of city crooks and a country bank. Writer-director-producer George Gallo's view of small-town America is patronizing, at best; condescending, at worst.
The story revolves around three soft-bitten New York criminals and their efforts to rob a rural Pennsylvania bank. The first scene establishes the fact that Bill Firpo (Nicholas Cage) is a real straight arrow. But when his two brothers Alvin (Dana Carvey) and Dave (Jon Lovitz) are released from prison, he somehow falls under their larcenous spell.
After a laborious and contrived setup, the three brothers find themselves in Paradise, Pa., where the bank's security cameras aren't plugged in, and the president (Donald Moffatt) carries the keys to the vault on his key ring. Bill is still reluctant to try anything until he learns that their car has a trunk full of weapons.
Even though it is Christmas Eve, they rob the bank and then find that they can't get out of town, hence the title.
The film's humor and pathos are supposed to come from the idea that the people of Paradise are so sweet and kind that they try to help the bank robbers escape. But neither group rings true. With the exception of one character (played by Madchen Amick in a virtual cameo), the townspeople have no depth. They're simply "nice" in a white-bread sort of way. The three protagonists are never really threatening. They're simple bumblers, portrayed by good actors who, to a man, have been completely miscast.
Lovitz, potentially the funniest of the trio, has virtually nothing to do or say. He works best with the snappy dialogue he had in "A League of Their Own," or even the animated feature, "The Brave Little Toaster." Here, he's got one funny moment when he tells the parole board how he will soar above his troubles "like the mighty pterodactyl" if they let him out. After that, nothing.
Carvey's Alvin appears to be a slightly retarded kleptomaniac. His scenes tend to involve either stealing stuff or eating foods that contain scallions, a word that is supposed to be funny. Go figure.
For his part, Cage does appear to be trapped. He wears a pained what-am-I-doing-here? expression throughout the film. Most members of the audience will probably find it easy to identify with him.
Trapped In Paradise
* 1/2
A Twentieth Century Fox release playing at the Salem Valley 8. 111 min. Rated PG-13 for considerable strong language, mild violence.
by CNB