
DATE: Saturday, August 30, 1997             TAG: 9708290059

SECTION: DAILY BREAK             PAGE: E7   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Movie Review 

SOURCE: BY MAL VINCENT, MOVIE CRITIC 

                                            LENGTH:   62 lines

WANNABE DARK COMEDY EXUDES NO JOKES, NO FUN FOR SILVERSTONE

THE TROUBLE with ``Excess Baggage'' is that it doesn't have nearly enough excess - or madness. It's much too smart, and too heavy, for its own good. Purporting to be a comedy, it takes a very funny idea and turns it into a dark, off-putting psychodrama, complete with car chases, fires and explosions, but very few laughs.

What we want with Alicia Silverstone, the lovable, teen shopaholic in ``Clueless,'' is to have a bit of fun. She was delightful in the film that made her a star, as a flighty girl who accessorizes her clothes by computer. Cher is one of the more memorable characters of recent film lore and ``Clueless'' is one of the best teen comedies ever.

There was every indication that Emily, the lead character in ``Excess Baggage'' would also be fun.

After all, the plot itself is funny. Emily, in order to get the attention of her rich father (Jack Thompson) stages her own kidnapping. She plans to lock herself in the trunk of her sports car and be rescued in due time. The mix-up occurs when Vincent (Benicio Del Toro), a petty car thief, steals the car, not knowing she's in the trunk. He can't imagine why the police are chasing him so diligently. Ultimately, he's chased by cops, by evil ``Uncle'' Ray (Christopher Walken in a repeat of his usual psychotic role) and by several goons who are mad at him for not delivering stolen cars.

She, in turn, is more feisty than victimized. She's the girl who has always had everything. He's the guy from the wrong side of the tracks. Eventually, they pool resources to flee together.

Now, if you can't develop some type of laughable comedy out of that situation, you just don't have a sense of humor. All the possibilities are there.

Director Marco Brambilla somehow manages to make it all seem quite dark and sinister, and to make Silverstone seem quite old and unappealing.

We'd like to know more about what happens before the movie starts. What is the relationship between Emily and her father? Why has she been driven to such a drastic deed in order to get his attention?

Del Toro, a veteran of ``The Usual Suspects,'' has no real chemistry with Silverstone, or any real gift for madcap comedy. Harry Connick Jr., cast as his partner, merely makes an appearance.

Silverstone produced the film as part of a three-picture deal. Reports were that there was trouble on the set between her and the director she hired.

Whatever the reason, ``Excess Baggage'' has too many chases and not enough jokes. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

PEGGY SIROTA

Alicia Silverstone plays troubled teen Emily and Benicio Del Toro is

Vincent in ``Excess Baggage.''

Graphic

MOVIE REVIEW

``Excess Baggage''

Cast: Alicia Silverstone, Benicio Del Toro, Christopher Walken,

Jack Thompson, Harry Connick Jr.

Director: Marco Brambilla

MPAA rating: PG-13 (some language)