Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, January 7, 1995 TAG: 9501100010
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MIKE MAYO CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
When the characters aren't walking past the golden arches or actually popping inside to order a Big Mac and fries, they're talking about how much they'd like a Quarter Pounder and a shake. In the film business, it's called "product placement," and here it's been taken to a new and hitherto undreamt of level.
In terms of story, the film is a vehicle for comedian Sinbad to show off his snappy one-liners and wild stories. He plays Kevin Franklin, a Pittsburgh dreamer who's full of schemes to strike it rich but somehow hasn't made it. In fact, a $5,000 loan from the local shark has ballooned into $50,000, and two comic thugs (Paul Ben-Victor and Tony Longo) are after him.
Kevin escapes at the airport by pretending to be Derek Bond, the long-lost friend of lawyer Gary Young (Phil Hartman). He manages to con his way into the family Volvo and Gary whisks him away for the weekend in upper middle-class suburbia. With the bad guys in pursuit, Kevin continues his impersonation, though he doesn't know who Derek is or what he does.
There's such a friendly edge to Sinbad's humor that this story about a fast-talking black guy among well-intentioned but clueless white people is never as confrontational as it might have been. Director Randall Miller (``Class Act") tries to jazz things up with lots of hyperactive camera work - when he isn't interested in fast food - but there's still a hollowness to this formula comedy and a feeling that all concerned were going through the motions. That's most noticeable in the continuity mistakes.
Sinbad's amiable screen presence is all the film has going for it. That's probably enough to recommend it to his fans. Everyone else can wait for the video.
Houseguest
HH
A Hollywood release playing at the Valley View Mall 6. 106 min. Rated PG for a little rough language, comic violence.
by CNB