The Virginian-Pilot
                             THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, July 8, 1994                   TAG: 9407080067
SECTION: DAILY BREAK              PAGE: E13  EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY JENNIFER BENTON, TEENOLOGY MOVIE CRITIC 
                                             LENGTH: Medium:   88 lines

``I LOVE TROUBLE'' SIZZLES WITH CHEMISTRY, SARCASM

THE BIG STAR names of Nick Nolte and Julia Roberts were enough to draw me to ``I Love Trouble.'' The clever plot and witty male vs. female sparring between the two leading characters was enough to keep me there.

Nolte, who starred in such critically acclaimed films such as ``Cape Fear'' and ``Prince of Tides,'' plays Peter Brackett - a cocktail partying, book writing, womanizing columnist for the ``Chicago Chronicle'' who has given up reporting the ``real'' news for the easy life of columns.

However, when a train derails and every other reporter is busy, Brackett is sent, unwillingly, to cover the story.

His spirits perk up when he spies Sebrina Peterson, played by Julia Roberts, who is covering the same story for his rival, ``The Chicago Globe.'' He slinks over to impart some words of wisdom upon the ``cub'' reporter and expects her to fall at his feet. Instead, she shoots him down and captures his interest. The sparks flying from the train wreck in the background don't outshine the sparks flying between Nolte and Roberts.

Nolte thinks he has no competition on this story, but he realizes the next morning that even the illustrious Peter Brackett can be scooped - and by cub reporter Sebrina Peterson at that. From that moment forward, the war is on.

The attraction/loathing between the two battling reporters thickens and so does the plot. It appears something rather sinister is going down, which there is.

The banter between the two makes the whole movie. The situations they get themselves into are hilarious.

However, one wonders a few things. Why, after only four days on the job, was Peterson given a front page story? She should have had to pay her dues by covering dog shows before being handed this Brackett-caliber assignment. Also, she runs all over the Windy City in the dead of night, all alone, and miraculously the ``bad guys'' never catch up with her or her reporting counterpart.

But since this is Hollywood, we'll give them some leeway. The final result is beautiful. The chemistry between Nolte and Roberts is electric. The couple just seems to connect and one can only hope that they do more films together.

The clever battle-of-the-sexes-dialogue, thrilling storyline, sarcastically funny situations, plus fine acting by Nolte and Roberts add up to one final result: you'll love ``I Love Trouble.''T HE BIG STAR names of Nick Nolte and Julia Roberts were enough to draw me to ``I Love Trouble.'' The clever plot and witty male vs. female sparring between the two leading characters was enough to keep me there.

Nolte, who starred in such critically acclaimed films such as ``Cape Fear'' and ``Prince of Tides,'' plays Peter Brackett - a cocktail partying, book writing, womanizing columnist for The Chicago Chronicle who has given up reporting the ``real'' news for the easy life of columns.

However, when a train derails and every other reporter is busy, Brackett is sent, unwillingly, to cover the story.

His spirits perk up when he spies Sebrina Peterson, played by Julia Roberts, who is covering the same story for his rival, The Chicago Globe. He slinks over to impart some words of wisdom upon the ``cub'' reporter and expects her to fall at his feet. Instead, she shoots him down and captures his interest. The sparks flying from the train wreck in the background don't outshine the sparks flying between Nolte and Roberts.

Nolte thinks he has no competition on this story, but he realizes the next morning that even the illustrious Peter Brackett can be scooped - and by cub reporter Sebrina Peterson at that. From that moment forward, the war is on.

The attraction/loathing between the two battling reporters thickens and so does the plot. It appears something rather sinister is going down, which there is.

The banter between the two makes the whole movie. The situations they get themselves into are hilarious.

However, one wonders a few things. Why, after only four days on the job, was Peterson given a front page story? She should have had to pay her dues by covering dog shows before being handed this Brackett-caliber assignment. Also, she runs all over the Windy City in the dead of night, all alone, and miraculously the ``bad guys'' never catch up with her or her reporting counterpart.

But since this is Hollywood, we'll give them some leeway. The final result is beautiful. The chemistry between Nolte and Roberts is electric. The couple just seems to connect and one can only hope that they do more films together.

The clever battle-of-the-sexes-dialogue, thrilling storyline, sarcastically funny situations, plus fine acting by Nolte and Roberts add up to one final result: you'll love ``I Love Trouble.'' MEMO: ``I Love Trouble'' is rated PG, those under 17 must be accompanied by a

parent or guardian. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

Jennifer Benton is a rising senior at Lakeland High.

by CNB