ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, October 26, 1996 TAG: 9610280131
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: B7 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: MOVIE REVIEW
SOURCE: MIKE MAYO CORRESPONDENT
As a faithful adaptation of its source, a novel written under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, "Stephen King's Thinner" is a fair little B-horror movie.
It's sluggishly paced, and the acting ranges from understatement to shameless histrionics. Much of the humor is either lame or out of place. Even viewers who aren't familiar with the story will probably predict the ending.
Billy Halleck (Robert John Burke) is an overweight, prosperous lawyer in the picture-perfect little town of Fairview. While driving home from a celebratory dinner, he hits an old gypsy woman and kills her. Since Billy's a plump pillar of the community, he's quickly cleared from any responsibility by the local authorities.
But the gypsy leader, Tadzu (Michael Constantine), isn't so forgiving. He curses Billy with a touch and a single word, "Thinner," and leaves town. Miraculously, Billy's new diet seems to be working. The pounds melt away and he can eat anything he wants. In fact, even when he stuffs himself, his waistline shrinks. In a very short time, of course, delight turns to fear. Sudden weight loss? His wife, Heidi (Lucinda Jenney), tells him to see a doctor.
Eventually, Billy has to go after the gypsies, and calls his gangster pal Richie (Joe Mantegna) for help.
Writer/director Tom Holland, who has also adapted King's "The Langoliers" for TV, maintains King's uneasy balance of social observation and cheap pulp thrills. The comfortable ease of suburbia is at odds with the gypsies, who are virtual cartoon cliches, none more than the slingshot-wielding Gina (Kari Wuhrer).
In the end, "Thinner" is less enjoyable than "The Running Man," the 1987 Bachman adaptation starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, and it doesn't even come close to the best of King's screen work, "Stand By Me," "The Stand," "The Shawshank Redemption" and "Dolores Claiborne."
Stephen King's Thinner **
A Paramount release playing at Salem Valley 8 and Valley View 6. 90 min. Rated R for bloody violence, strong language.
LENGTH: Short : 46 linesby CNB