bnorthup
08-20-2002, 05:13 PM
XXX (PG-13)
At the Gaslight
2.5 stars
Blue Crush (PG-13)
At the Circus
2.5 stars
Beach girls go on a surfin’ safari
By Brent Northup
Both “XXX” and “Blue Crush” are lightweight summer movies that invite us to check our brains at the door and enjoy the ride. Color me gullible, but I actually enjoyed them both. Neither one is a particularly good movie, but both managed to keep me smiling more than groaning – which is enough in August.
“XXX” deserves praise for being one of the most entertaining 007-style films since the departure of Sean Connery. That’s back-handed praise, of course, since the current James Bond films have neither energy nor originality – they are brainless take-no-chances money-makers.
“XXX” overflows with energy – and Van Diesel’s portrayal of the extreme sports star who becomes a spy has a passion that makes both Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan seem almost impotent. Yes, whether you like this arrogant cuss or not, Van Diesel is going to be Hollywood’s next big action hero.
What I liked most about “XXX” was its knowing parody of the Bond movies. As one who loved the original Bond films, I was delighted to see a film that understood and appreciated the subtle wink-and-go style of Ian Fleming.
The story is tired – a spy is sent to the Czech Republic to stop a villain from destroying the world. Along the way he sleeps with a pretty woman, blows up a lot of pricey property and saves us all. Whew.
“Blue Crush” is a surfin’ chick flick with an attitude. Gidget is back, but she’s got a brain this time - and her body is fit enough to stop the surfing scenes from being silly. I just wish they’d just had the Dixie Chicks sing a Beach Boys song as the title tune.
This story is predictable as well. A girl who works as a hotel maid to earn rent money dreams of becoming a pro surfer. She tried before, but nearly died after hitting her head on a rock after being crushed by a huge wave. But she’s back, and her two girlfriends and her sister are cheering her on as she rebuilds her career – and her reputation.
She falls in love with a quarterback, which proves a serious distraction. Her friends bluntly tell her she’s using this affair as an excuse for failing in the contest – an accusation that’s clearly true. But, eventually, she finds the courage to face her demons and ride the waves in pursuit of glory.
The ending is surprisingly honest, with a distinctly feminine sensibility. One opponent actually helps the other during the heat of competition – and the finale is not about winning and losing, but about the regaining of self-esteem. No self-respecting macho movie would dare end this way.
I liked the simple tale and enjoyed the submerging of competition into the background in favor of some introspection about life. Like “XXX”, it’s important not to mistake this for a “good movie,” but it’s a nice ride on the waves, nonetheless.
END
At the Gaslight
2.5 stars
Blue Crush (PG-13)
At the Circus
2.5 stars
Beach girls go on a surfin’ safari
By Brent Northup
Both “XXX” and “Blue Crush” are lightweight summer movies that invite us to check our brains at the door and enjoy the ride. Color me gullible, but I actually enjoyed them both. Neither one is a particularly good movie, but both managed to keep me smiling more than groaning – which is enough in August.
“XXX” deserves praise for being one of the most entertaining 007-style films since the departure of Sean Connery. That’s back-handed praise, of course, since the current James Bond films have neither energy nor originality – they are brainless take-no-chances money-makers.
“XXX” overflows with energy – and Van Diesel’s portrayal of the extreme sports star who becomes a spy has a passion that makes both Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan seem almost impotent. Yes, whether you like this arrogant cuss or not, Van Diesel is going to be Hollywood’s next big action hero.
What I liked most about “XXX” was its knowing parody of the Bond movies. As one who loved the original Bond films, I was delighted to see a film that understood and appreciated the subtle wink-and-go style of Ian Fleming.
The story is tired – a spy is sent to the Czech Republic to stop a villain from destroying the world. Along the way he sleeps with a pretty woman, blows up a lot of pricey property and saves us all. Whew.
“Blue Crush” is a surfin’ chick flick with an attitude. Gidget is back, but she’s got a brain this time - and her body is fit enough to stop the surfing scenes from being silly. I just wish they’d just had the Dixie Chicks sing a Beach Boys song as the title tune.
This story is predictable as well. A girl who works as a hotel maid to earn rent money dreams of becoming a pro surfer. She tried before, but nearly died after hitting her head on a rock after being crushed by a huge wave. But she’s back, and her two girlfriends and her sister are cheering her on as she rebuilds her career – and her reputation.
She falls in love with a quarterback, which proves a serious distraction. Her friends bluntly tell her she’s using this affair as an excuse for failing in the contest – an accusation that’s clearly true. But, eventually, she finds the courage to face her demons and ride the waves in pursuit of glory.
The ending is surprisingly honest, with a distinctly feminine sensibility. One opponent actually helps the other during the heat of competition – and the finale is not about winning and losing, but about the regaining of self-esteem. No self-respecting macho movie would dare end this way.
I liked the simple tale and enjoyed the submerging of competition into the background in favor of some introspection about life. Like “XXX”, it’s important not to mistake this for a “good movie,” but it’s a nice ride on the waves, nonetheless.
END