THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 24, 1995 TAG: 9503240059
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E9 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BRENT A. BOWLES, TEENOLOGY MOVIE CRITIC
LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines
AFTER PLAYING Capt. Hook and the Rain Man, exposing Watergate in ``All the President's Men'' and masquerading as the affable Tootsie, who says he can't be an action hero?
In the new thriller ``Outbreak,'' Dustin Hoffman dons fatigues to play an Army doctor on the trail of a deadly virus loose in a California town. The African virus could envelop the country in 48 hours.
Hoffman has great fun as Col. Sam Daniels, an estranged husband and doctor who worries about viruses and his dogs all in the same breath. Although he looks goofy in Army fatigues, Hoffman fuels his role with a delightful square-jawed conviction. While this isn't his big break into action films, Hoffman manages to keep the character convincing and likable.
Convincing isn't the first word that comes to mind with Donald Sutherland as Gen. McClintock, the Army general covering up an earlier discovery of the virus for use as a supreme biological weapon. Assisted by Morgan Freeman, who gives a serviceable performance in a similar but more compassionate role, Sutherland tries desperately to be real but fails.
In another unspectacular performance is Rene Russo as Daniels' estranged wife, a carbon-copy career woman who works for the Centers for Disease Control. Russo's hard-nosed good looks seem out of place. Her acting barely keeps interest.
The only other really good performance is by Cuba Gooding Jr., who was so great in ``Boyz N the Hood.'' He's a wet-behind-the-ears medical soldier who has a knack for piloting a helicopter.
``Outbreak'' is a superb suspense film, well directed by Wolfgang Peterson, who helmed Clint Eastwood in 1993's best thriller ``In the Line of Fire.'' Its main problem lies in the plot. While very poignant and extremely frightening, this story of a virus on the loose resembles other films, including ``The Andromeda Strain.''
``Outbreak'' does have a ton of intriguing medical mumbo jumbo, hard-edged dialogue, a hurried pace straight from the best episodes of ``ER'' and spectacular action sequences set to the beat of James Newton Howard's thundering percussive music.
Peterson goes straight for thrills, ignoring the big holes in his plot. The results are obvious but worth watching.
``Outbreak'' deftly handles the deadly-plague-out-of-control plot with B-movie conviction and constant suspense, thanks mostly to director Petersen. Hoffman makes a surprisingly good hero, riding high above a serviceable supporting cast. Don't think about it too hard, but do keep your hands and arms inside the car at all times, because this is a one-of-a-kind roller coaster. MEMO: ``Outbreak'' is rated R, those under 17 not admitted without parent or
guardian. ILLUSTRATION: Photos
Army doctor Sam Daniels (Dustin Hoffman), right, and Maj. Walter
Salt (Cuba Gooding Jr.) combat a deadly virus in ``Outbreak.''
Brent Bowles is a 1994 Princess Anne grad
by CNB