Familiar love story features drag queens, hit men, and
show tunes
So what do you do for an encore after you’ve written and
starred in the second most successful independent film ever made? Why, you shamelessly
remake a Hollywood classic and hope no one notices! That’s what Nia Vardolas
appears to be doing with Connie and Carla, a twist on Some Like It
Hot with a pinch of Victor, Victoria thrown in for good measure.
Vardolas (of My Big Fat Greek Wedding fame) stars as Connie and Toni
Collette is Carla, two longtime friends who dream of Broadway stardom. Unfortunately,
they’ve only made it as far as an airport lounge where they belt out show tunes
for stranded passengers. After they witness the murder of their boss, the women
flee to Los Angeles and masquerade as drag queens to hide from the killers.
Given their enthusiasm, flair with costumes, and ability to sing, how could
they be anything but stars in the gay community?
Alas, things get complicated when Connie falls for Jeff (David Duchovny),
who is coming to terms with his brother’s homosexuality and now questions his
own sexual orientation. Duchovny, who has had trouble with sincerity in previous
big-screen roles, does decent work here under Michael Lembeck’s direction. He
and Vardolas are never less than cute and charming together. Collette does a
fine job as well, enthusiastic over the success that finally comes Carla’s way
and crushed when Connie, distracted by Jeff, leaves her behind. Meanwhile Boris
McGiver, who plays the hit man on Connie and Carla’s trail, nearly steals every
scene he’s in.
What other critics are saying. . .
The Alamo [PG-13] Santa’s coming, and you better watch out. Tells the
story of the 1836 standoff between a group of Texans, including Davy Crockett
and Jim Bowie, and the Mexican army, led by General Santa Ana.ShowPlace
West, ShowPlace East
Ella Enchanted [PG] Ella is a young woman who was given the “gift”
of obedience by a fairy named Lucinda. After her mother dies, Ella is cared
for by her thoughtless, greedy father who remarries a loathsome woman. A variation
on the Cinderalla theme based on Gail Carson Levine’s award-winning novel. Parkway
Pointe, ShowPlace East
The Girl Next Door [R] A teenager’s dreams come true when a former
porn star moves in next door. “Marks its director and scripters as talents to
watch and affirms that its young star, Emile Hirsch, is a big-screen natural.”
(Sheri Linden, Hollywood Reporter) Parkway Pointe
Hellboy [PG-13] A demon, rescued during infancy from the Nazis, becomes
a defender against the forces of evil. “The sheer ingenuity and obvious joy
[Guillermo] del Toro puts into the major action sequences lifts the movie out
of the mundane.” (Kirk Honeycutt, Hollywood Reporter) ShowPlace West,
ShowPlace East
Hidalgo [PG-13] The story of a Pony Express courier (Viggo Mortensen)
who travels to Saudi Arabia to compete with his horse, Hidalgo, in a dangerous
race for a massive contest prize. ShowPlace West
Home on the Range [PG] When an eviction notice is posted on the Patch of Heaven dairy farm, the cows decide to raise money by collecting a bounty on a notorious yodeling cattle rustler.”Witty and self-assured, Home on the Range ranks as one of Disney’s better efforts.” (Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution) ShowPlace West, ShowPlace East
Jersey Girl [PG-13] A music industry executive struggles to raise his
young daughter on his own. “[Ben] Affleck finally scores a hit with a co-star
who is nine years old.” (Victoria Alexander, Filmsinreview.com) Parkway Pointe
Johnson Family Vacation [PG-13] A family takes a
road trip from hell, with the inevitable wrong turns, car problems and trouble
with the law. Stars Cedric the Entertainer.”This
movie is a flat, unfunny mess.” (Willie Waffle, Wafflemovies.com) Parkway Pointe,
ShowPlace East
Kill Bill: Vol. 2 [R] Black Mamba continues her vengeance quest against
her ex-boss, Bill, and his associates. “What Quentin Tarantino started with
a wham he finishes with a bang in Kill Bill Vol. 2.” (Todd McCarthy,
Variety) ShowPlace West, ShowPlace East
The Ladykillers [R] A professor assembles a group of thieves for a
casino heist. After they hole up in a sweet old woman’s home, they find that
she’s the biggest threat to their plans. Stars Tom Hanks. Parkway Pointe
The Passion of the Christ [R] Mel Gibson’s version of the last 12 hours
of Jesus Christ’s life. Parkway Pointe
The Prince and Me [PG] Fairy tale about a college
student who meets a prince in Wisconsin.”Fitful
corny one-liners and an ambiguous climax can be overlooked due to fresh scripting
and the vast appeal of Julia Stiles and newcomer Luke Mably.” (Jeanne Aufmuth,
Palo Alto Weekly) Parkway Pointe
The Punisher [R] Based on a bad-ass Marvel Comics hero, FBI agent Frank
Castle takes it upon himself to rid America of crime after his wife and family
are killed. “Laudably exposes the dark core of the human heart.” (Peter Travers,
Rolling Stone) ShowPlace West, ShowPlace East
Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed [PG] The gang must contend with a
masked villain who unleashes scary monsters in an attempt to take over Coolsville.
“Doggone fun for kids (and stoners) everywhere.” (Susannah Gora, Premiere
magazine) ShowPlace West
13 Going on 30 [PG-13] A 13-year-old girl plays a game on her 13th
birthday and wakes up the next day as a 30-year-old woman [Jennifer Garner].
ShowPlace West
Walking Tall [PG-13] A former member of U.S. Army Special Forces (Dwayne
“The Rock” Johnson) returns to his small Washington State home to revive his
family’s lumber business. The town’s overrun with corruption; the ex-soldier
fixes things with a two-by-four. “The new Walking Tall is essentially
a lighter, cliff-note version of the original film.” (Stefan Halley, HeroRealm.com)
ShowPlace West, ShowPlace East
The Whole Ten Yards [PG-13]Jimmy the Tulip’s (Bruce Willis)
springs into action when the wife of his old pal Oz (Matthew Perry) is kidnapped
by a Hungarian mob. ShowPlace West, ShowPlace East
This article appears in Apr 15-21, 2004.
