`KRIPPENDORF'S TRIBE' DELIVERS THE LAUGHS.Byline: Glenn Whipp Daily News Film Critic Most of us can relate to Dr. James Krippendorf on some level. Here's an anthropologist (played by Richard Dreyfuss Richard Stephen Dreyfuss (born October 29, 1947) is an Academy Award-winning American actor. Biography Early life Dreyfuss was born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Norman, an attorney and restaurateur, and Geraldine, a peace activist. ) who was given a big university grant to document an ``undiscovered'' tribe in New Guinea New Guinea (gĭn`ē), island, c.342,000 sq mi (885,780 sq km), SW Pacific, N of Australia; the world's second largest island after Greenland. . Then his wife dies, he blows the money and returns to the States to face the music. It's the classic case of ``the dog ate my homework.'' Only Krippendorf doesn't have to answer to just one teacher. He must explain himself before a roomful of hundreds of them. Krippendorf wants to fess up Verb 1. fess up - admit or acknowledge a wrongdoing or error; "the writer of the anonymous letter owned up after they identified his handwriting" make a clean breast of, own up , but he can't quite do it. So, during his big lecture, he makes up his own tribe, calling them the Shelmikedmu after his three kids - Shelly, Mickey and Edmund. He'd like for the whole thing to end there, but, of course, it doesn't. Krippendorf has fabricated such an interesting tribe that people want more stories - and film footage, too. Krippendorf either must oblige or abdicate ab·di·cate v. ab·di·cat·ed, ab·di·cat·ing, ab·di·cates v.tr. To relinquish (power or responsibility) formally. v.intr. To relinquish formally a high office or responsibility. his seat in academia. It's a fun premise for a movie, and ``Krippendorf's Tribe'' runs with it, delivering a frenetic farce that delivers a fair share of laughs. The movie works as a comedy, though this being a Disney product, there's a somewhat sappy message about family togetherness that never really rises above cliches. That doesn't really matter, though, since director Todd Holland
adj. 1. a. Querulous or discontented. b. Ill-tempered. 2. Contrary; fractious. [Middle English pevish, possibly from Latin charm. As Krippendorf, he makes lying fun. Dreyfuss is aided wonderfully by Jenna Elfman, who plays an overzealous professor who tries to ride Krippendorf's coattails coat·tail n. 1. The loose back part of a coat that hangs below the waist. 2. coattails The skirts of a formal or dress coat. Idiom: on the coattails of 1. and winds up, like Krippendorf, in over her head. With her boisterous energy and loopy grace, Elfman extends the kooky persona she has created on TV's ``Dharma dharma (där`mə). In Hinduism, dharma is the doctrine of the religious and moral rights and duties of each individual; it generally refers to religious duty, but may also mean social order, right conduct, or simply virtue. & Greg,'' packing a palpable screen presence in the process. It's a nice debut, indicating that there might be a promising film career for her future. The movie puts the kids to good use, too, as Krippendorf enlists them to go tribal and flesh out his film footage. This prompts a great scene where the middle boy goes to school and explains what he enjoyed most about his weekend. ``The circumcision circumcision (sûr'kəmsĭzh`ən), operation to remove the foreskin covering the glans of the penis. It dates back to prehistoric times and was widespread throughout the Middle East as a religious rite before it was introduced among the ritual, of course!'' he tells his classmates Classmates can refer to either:
No, ``Krippendorf's Tribe'' isn't the thinking person's comedy. But it is a silly, laugh-out-loud, entertaining movie, which is no small accomplishment these days. Director Holland knows his way around a goofy situation, but grounds most of his comedy in the very real foibles of human behavior. There's a little Krippendorf in all of us, and after watching this movie, admitting that might not be such a bad thing. The facts The film: ``Krippendorf's Tribe'' (PG-13; sexual humor). The stars: Richard Dreyfuss, Jenna Elfman, Lily Tomlin. Behind the scenes: Directed by Todd Holland. Written by Charlie Peters. Distributed by Buena Vista Pictures. Running time: One hour, 34 minutes. Playing: Citywide. Our rating: three stars CAPTION(S): Photo PHOTO Anthropologist James Krippendorf (Richard Dreyfuss, left) convinces his kids (Gregory Smith, center, and Carl Michael Lindner) to pose as members of an ``undiscovered'' tribe in ``Krippendorf's Tribe.'' |
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