THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, July 18, 1994 TAG: 9407160044
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Movie Review
SOURCE: BY MAL VINCENT, ENTERTAINMENT WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 84 lines
MAE WEST, THAT ever-quotable philosopher of the Western world, once pointed out that ``too much of a good thing can be wonderful.''
``True Lies,'' the new Arnold Schwarzenegger action move made at a reported cost of more than $100 million, is excessive in most every category. There are three grand-finale endings. The explosions are louder and the stunts more daring. At 2 1/2 hours, even the length is a bit much.
No matter.
Relentless mayhem may be noisy, but you get a lot of show for your money. Just when I had decided that ``Speed'' had to be the top action movie of the summer, ``True Lies'' comes along to challenge it.
The opening is a James Bond takeout with Ah-nold daringly invading a bad-guys lair in which he must (1) Dance the tango to conceal his identity and (2) Blow up the entire place. He's better at the explosives than the tango.
Back at home, his wife, Jamie Lee Curtis, done up in mousy fluff and spectacles, thinks he's a nerdish computer salesman. She's so bored that she's tempted to have an affair with a used car salesman who is masquerading as a spy (Bill Paxton in a hilarious bit part).
Arnold gets involved in the big assignment - stopping a group of terrorists who have a spare nuclear bomb. The wife, of course, also gets involved, but she doesn't really know what's happening.
``Have you ever killed anyone?'' she asks.
``Yah, but dey vere all bad,'' he answers.
The movie attempts to blend marital comedy with action. It is not very successful at the mix, but the outlandishly cartoonish nature of the film saves all. You are not encouraged to take it seriously.
Arnold has made a career out of making fun of himself. That humor comes through again. Curtis may not be a likely choice as his mate, but she does look as if she works out. A good writer could have gotten more comedic mileage out of the husband-wife stuff. This is not Nick and Nora Charles. There's little witty sparring.
On the other hand, the stunts are state-of-the-art. Arnold, on horseback, chases a motorcycle through a hotel. A runaway limousine heads for a destroyed bridge off the Florida Keys. Both Jamie Lee and Arnold hang from a speeding helicopter. Arnold flies a Harrier jet through the Miami skyline.
The film is directed by James Cameron who last teamed with Arnold for ``Terminator 2.'' He turns every stunt into an event. The volume is turned to full pitch. With Cameron, half the illusion is spurred by what you hear. Don't plan to take a nap during this film.
Some of the childishness carried over into the writing. The way women are treated is overly chauvinistic; I counted the ``B'' word seven times. Curtis, in a scene that is supposed to be funny, is made to dance about in skimpy underwear in a way that is more prurient than charming.
Then there's that unfortunate scene when Tom Arnold mutters, ``Women. . . You can't live with 'em, you can't kill 'em.'' This drew winces from an audience force-fed the O.J. Simpson spectacle.
The other regrettable stereotype is, yet again, the depiction of Arabs as terrorists. Art Malick (remember him in TV's classic ``Jewel in the Crown?'') is the main meanie. In an obvious effort to compensate, the script adds one good Arab.
The real surprise is not Arnold S. but the other Arnold - Tom Arnold. He plays the much-divorced sidekick who is troubled by even the memory of women. Even those of us who are sick of the tabloid overkill about his travails with Roseanne come away liking his wry delivery here. He's quite funny. This outing is enough to suggest that he will have a future on the big screen.
Tia Carrere, from ``Wayne's World,'' has a showy and glamorous bit as the femme fatale villainess, Juno. She could have stepped right out of a 007 flick. Even Charlton Heston, done up with an eye patch, seems to have gotten into the spirit of the proceedings. He's a spy boss who sets up the mission.
``True Lies'' is everything an action movie should be - with a husband-wife angle added. ILLUSTRATION: Arnold Schwarzenegger in the explosive and daring "True Lies."
FILM REVIEW
"True Lies"
MPAA Rating: R
Starring: Arnold Scwarzenegger, Jamie Lee Curtis
Written and directed by: James Cameron
Mal's rating: ***
by CNB