Film Forum: The Second Coming of E.T.
an alien Christ figure back to the big screen. Does the movie still work 20 years later? Plus: Critical responses to Blade 2, Taliesin Jones, Sorority Boys, 40 Days and 40 Nights, and Death to Smoochy. And what's this about a revival in Hollywood?
Jeffrey Overstreet | posted 3/01/2002 12:00AM
5 of 5
Kirk Honeycutt (Hollywood Reporter) writes that it "is a loud, ugly, irritating movie without any of its satirical salvos hitting a discernible target. A stellar cast consisting of Robin Williams, Edward Norton … and [Danny] DeVito … is over-the-top in shrill performances that are embarrassing. Williams [delivers] the most grating performance of his career. Given the array of talent involved … you have to write this one off to the fact that anyone can have a bad day. But what are the odds that everyone has that bad day on the same day?"
Similarly, Alex Nohe (FilmThreat) declares, "The premise is a comedy cliché. A dirty clown? Robin Williams' performance is one-note and is delivered as if the film was a cartoon. Edward Norton's performance as Smoochy is also uninteresting and uninspiring. Outside of watching [Anastas] Michos' career-making performance as a cinematographer, the only other reason to see this would be to witness the difference between 'funny' and 'trying to be funny.'"
I'll have reactions from the religious press next week.
Next week: Jodie Foster stars in David Fincher's Panic Room. Dennis Quaid in a G-rated baseball movie called The Rookie. And reaction to the re-release of The Fellowship of the Ring with its preview of next year's The Two Towers.
Copyright © 2002 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.
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Past review roundups are available in the Film Forum archives.
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