
DATE: Tuesday, October 14, 1997             TAG: 9710150797

SECTION: DAILY BREAK             PAGE: E4   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Movie Review 

SOURCE: BY MAL VINCENT, MOVIE CRITIC 

                                            LENGTH:   70 lines

``ROCKETMAN'' PROVES THAT EVEN DISNEY CAN MAKE FILM MISTAKES

``ROCKETMAN'' is a movie that should be sent to Mars - one way.

On second thought, why litter up space.

Perhaps, in any case, the moon would be better. We're sure there isn't life there. If the Martians ever see this movie, they're sure never to visit us.

It makes one wonder what those people are thinking over at the Disney think tank? Stupider than stupid is this low budgeted bit about a computer-whiz nerd who becomes an unlikely candidate to be one of three astronauts aboard the first capsule to Mars.

The only explanation for its existence must be that the Disney marketers insist on releasing it in theaters first to help the video sales, which can be aimed more directly at the targeted audience: boys under age 10.

There are the usual flatulence jokes mingled with all kind of bathroom innuendo. Consider space travel, space suits and such and that gives these writers a big opportunity. Ugh! Don't expect a description here.

Harland Williams, whoever that is, plays Fred Z. Randall. In an early scene, he expresses his love of space travel by putting himself in the clothes dryer. (Should kids be encouraged to try this?) He then spends most of his time bumping into furniture and generally making a shambles of NASA. After each mishap, he mutters, ``It wasn't me!'' - a catch phrase that might catch on, if anyone sees the movie.

In fact, as recorded in this film, the first words muttered on Mars are ``It wasn't me!'' That's after Randall falls down the ladder.

From the look of his comedic style, Williams may well be the illegitimate son of Jerry Lewis. In fact, the suggestion that he also has a mean-serious streak to his bumbling might even hint that he's legitimate. Perhaps they'll like it in France.

Whatever the genes, he's the most irritating comic to come along since Pauly Shore - a former Disney employee that the Mouse empire has had the good sense to put to rest.

Some of the sweetness of a Pee Wee Herman would have worked well. Come back Pee Wee. We need you for movies like this.

Randall sneezes into his helmet just at blast off. In one of his best moments, he does an imitation of Bert Lahr singing ``If I Were King'' from ``The Wizard of Oz.''

Shelley Duvall (suggesting that her Robert Altman days are gone forever) plays his mother. Beau Bridges, understandably looking guilty, plays a former astronaut who teams up with the moron. Jessica Lundy is asked to be no more than cute as the resident female scientist who, unbelievably, warms to Randall.

We keep hoping things will be better on Mars and, yes, they are - a bit. Everything looks red, which means we can't see as well. It helps. Plus there is some semblance of a plot in which Randall becomes heroic. It, at least, stops him from bumping into the walls and putting laxative into the other astronauts' food.

There must be some fun in seeing adults behave like idiots, but if you're over age 10 and sit through the first 30 minutes of ``RocketMan,'' you're a perfect candidate for outer space. You can stand anything. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

DISNEY

Harlan Williams stars as a computer geek who unexpectedly joins the

first manned mission to Mars in ``RocketMan.''

Graphic

MOVIE REVIEW

``RocketMan''

Cast: Harland Williams, Beau Bridges, Shelley Duvall

Director: Stuart Gillard

MPAA rating: PG (tasteless flatulence jokes)

Mal's rating: 1/2 star