Friday, April 10, 1998 | 9:44 a.m.
Grades: Jeff, C; Dave, C.
Starring: Billy Crystal, Kathleen Quinlan, Gheorghe Muresan and Rider Strong.
Screenplay: David Seltzer.
Director: Michael Lehmann.
Rated: PG
Running time: 107 minutes.
Playing at: ACT III Boulder Station, ACT III Sunset Station, ACT III Village Square, Las Vegas Drive-In, Rancho Santa Fe, Cinedome 12 Las Vegas, Cinedome 12 Henderson, UA Showcase mall.
Synopsis: A second-rate talent agent, who is more devoted to his climb to the top than to his family, thinks he can jump-start his career by promoting a Romanian giant to fame and fortune.
Dave: You know, it is a real mystery as to why funnyman Billy Crystal has not had the same success that has graced his comedy cohorts. Think about it -- not since 1991's "City Slickers" has the talented Crystal struck box office gold. Oh sure, he is a comical blessing every year as host of the Academy Awards, but it's his friends, Robin Williams and Whoopi Goldberg, who are walking up to the stage, accepting Oscars. Not Billy. You can't help but think about what that does to a man and his ego. Sad, really. And what is even sadder is when he continues to make movies that fall flat at the box office. "My Giant" will be no exception.
Jeff: Crystal has the persona of the nicest guy in Hollywood. It's this image that works against him in "My Giant." Crystal plays Sammy, the world's sleaziest sports agent, who, while on location in Romania filming a low-budget action movie, discovers a giant, "Maximus." Sammy becomes obsessed with putting Max in the movies.
From this moment on, the mixture of heart-tugging sentiment and flat, rapid one-liners fails to even coax a smile. Sammy is such an unlikeable person, so shady, he's someone you would ask to leave your dinner party. He completely takes advantage of his giant, and exploits him to the max by having him wrestle with a collection of midgets. This film has so many dark and distasteful moments.
Dave: Come on Jeff, give Sammy a break. Yes, he may have been an inconsiderate, self-serving, success-driven talent agent looking for the next Hollywood star, but that didn't mean he wasn't remorseful. His wife leaves him, his parents don't support his career and his clients drop him -- what else does a desperate individual do when opportunity knocks?
If I know you, Jeff, you would jump all over it -- which is exactly what Crystal's character does. He shows his hesitation towards having his giant pal wrestle, he conveys regret over his brief separation from his wife and kid, and he certainly redeems himself by the film's end. Cut Crystal some slack. My problem is that there is more sap in this comedy then I cared for.
Jeff: That's my point. Sammy's turnaround occurs when he makes a phone call to Max's long lost love with some hope of reuniting the giant and his mate. The revelation comes too late. You are forced to sit through all the lies, the fast talking, the back-room deals, and expected to believe that Sammy has changed his ways, practically overnight. I can understand the desperation of Sammy's actions. I just can't buy Crystal in the part. He's one of my favorites, but it's like Jimmy Stewart playing a serial killer. I don't buy it or accept it.
Dave: During the film's end credits, a title scrolls by saying "for Andre." That is, of course, for the late actor/wrestler Andre the Giant, serving as the inspiration behind Crystal and screenwriter David Seltzer's ("The Omen") story. So who do you cast to play the Romanian, Shakespeare-quoting, monastery-dwelling giant? Why, the 7-foot-7, NBA basketball star Gheorghe Muresan, who plays center for the Washington Wizards (formerly the Bullets).
Besides the fact that you can hardly understand his grasp of the English language, he would have made his giant college proud. The only real laugh comes from Steven Seagal, playing himself, who is big enough to poke fun at his image. I thought I would never say this, but kudos to Seagal.
Jeff: Muresan is a sight to behold. He's a delight as a sensitive, compassionate, poet-reciting giant. But the film struggles when the story shifts away from Max to Sammy and his broken marriage. The supporting cast doesn't have a chance to save the story, although Kathleen Quinlan, as Sammy's wife, gives a heartfelt performance. The funniest scene in the film is when the odd duo visit Sammy's relatives for a hilarious and unforgettable dinner. That was the only digestible scene. "My Giant" is tall on promises and short on laughs. Which goes to show you, the bigger they are, the harder they fall.
MOVIE BUZZ
* More 'Heathers': Winona Ryder is reportedly working with Michael Lehmann and Daniel Waters to revisit the trio's hit black comedy "Heathers." The group is working on a sequel to the earlier hit, which also starred Christian Slater and Shannen Doherty.
* 'Hulk' still kicking: Despite earlier reports of the film's demise, plans to bring popular Marvel Comics character The Incredible Hulk to the big-screen continue on their twisting journey. According to sources, the drive to revive the jolly green giant's floundering movie career is being spearheaded by original screenwriter Jonathan Hensleigh, who is attempting to rewrite budget-busting scenes.
* Stone back to 'Basics'?: Although she claimed that she would never be involved with a sequel to the film that launched her into superstardom, Sharon Stone told BBC Radio that the script to "Basic Instinct 2" exceeded her expectations. "I thought it would be idiotic and dreadful," Stone said. "I got two-thirds of the way through, and the script is fabulous." The BBC reports indicated that original "Instinct" director Paul Verhoeven, with whom Stone had a falling out, would not be involved in the sequel.
* Sant Goes 'Psycho': Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the shower ... Oscar-nominated director Gus van Sant ("Good Will Hunting") is teaming with producer Brian Grazer to remake the classic Hitchcock fright-fest, using the original script but updating the setting and casting "young, hip actors." According to industry trade paper The Hollywood Reporter, the remake will be put on a fast track and could be completed within three months.
* 'Titanic' sinks another record: Sick of hearing about that boat movie, yet? Well, then stop reading right here! According to Internet host Worldsite Networks, Paramount's "Titanic" website has far surpassed all other Internet movie pages by recording 400 million hits (visits by net users) since its November launch. At its peak the day after the Oscars, www.titanicmovie.com logged 6.8 million hits in a single day! No wonder we always get a busy signal when we try to log on.
* Good Will Ferrel: Comic actor Will Ferrell, who has developed a cult following with the Spartan Cheerleaders sketches on NBC's "Saturday Night Live," has signed to star in the upcoming Disney feature "The Whistleblower." Ferrell will play a man who discovers that his company produces a defective product. When he complains to his superiors, he immediately becomes the target of corporate hit men. For his first leading role, Ferrell may earn a cool $1 million for the role. We'd love to do the perfect cheer for Will, but we were kicked off the squad ... "SPARTAN SPIRIT!"
NAME THAT FLICK
"Walt Whitman once said, 'I see great things in baseball. It's our game. The American game. It will repair our losses and be a blessing to us.' You could look it up."
Kendall Aschoff left the dugout long enough to call our hotline and was the first to identify the last line from "Bull Durham," spoken by Susan Sarandon's sexy character, Annie. Way to go, Kendall! Now, get to the bullpen and start warming up -- we need you!
Now, for this week's quote, who said this and in what film: "Anything you have to say about your mother-in-law, you don't have to explain to me. You know what I mean? It's like if she were a star of a real crummy horror movie, I'd believe it." Does it sound familiar? If it does, let your fingers do the walking and call The Movie Guys Hotline at 225-9026, or e-mail us at movieguys5 @aol.com. (Offer void in the Czech Republic). Be sure to spell your name and leave a daytime phone number, and if you're the first correct caller/e-mailer, we will print your name right here in our column, while supplies last.
Now back to our midday movie, "The Jackson Five Story," starring The Osmond Brothers.
THE MOVIE GUYS, starring Jeff Howard and Dave Neil, appears every Friday in the SUN (additional material provided by Thomas Feeney). You can also read their capsule reviews of movies in Scope magazine; listen to their reviews and commentary every Friday at 7 p.m. on their radio show "Quiet on the Set" on KVBC 105.1-FM; and watch their reviews every Friday on Channel 3's 11 p.m. newscast. Plus, check them out online at: www.lasvegassun.com/sun/sunlife/ movies.
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