CRITICS' PICKS : FILM.Hero sandwich: They're brave. They're dedicated. They're inept. But that's not gonna prevent the ``Mystery Men'' from saving the day. This energetic spoof of superhero su·per·he·ro n. pl. su·per·he·roes A figure, especially in a comic strip or cartoon, endowed with superhuman powers and usually portrayed as fighting evil or crime. movies occasionally takes itself too seriously - if acting like a ``Batman'' sequel can at all be considered serious - but it mostly keeps satiric tongue firmly planted in cheek. Eminent smart-alecks Ben Stiller, Hank Azaria Hank Albert Azaria (born April 25, 1964 in Forest Hills, Queens, New York, United States) is an American actor, director, comedian and voice artist. He is most famous for his long-running career as one of the main voice actors on the animated television series The Simpsons. , William H. Macy and Janeane Garofalo lead a motley crew of bowling ball-tossers, fork-throwers and really angry guys against the forces of evil and retro-disco fashion. Along the way, director Kinka Usher zings the excesses of comic-book fantasies and modern celebrity culture - while showing us how they're not all that different from one another. The hilarious costumes are worth the price of admission alone. - Bob Strauss music A tribute to Horace Tapscott: Doesn't it practically drive you to distraction that there are doubtless thousands of fresh young local jazz fans who know the New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of scene inside-out but have never heard of Horace Tapscott? That's why this Saturday's evening of poetry and music celebrating the life and legacy of the late pianist, arranger and composer, who made his home in Los Angeles, is itself cause for celebration. The free 8 p.m. concert at downtown's Watercourt at California Plaza brings together a diverse group of artists and sounds from Tapscott's eclectic musical orbit, including the Watts Prophets, poet Kamau Daaood and An Army of Healers, Dwight Trible, Nate Morgan and others. For location, parking and updated schedule information, call (213) 687-2159. - Reed Johnson Remember at RetroFest: You've heard of the annual Best of L.A. festival. Now, here comes the best of L.A.'s past. Rhino Records' three-day RetroFest, starting today at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium Santa Monica Civic Auditorium is a multipurpose convention center in Santa Monica, California. It was built in 1958. For trade shows, the Civic Auditorium features 11,775 square feet (1,094 m²) of space, while the stage adds 4,485 square feet (417 m²) more space, , features groups from the '60s, '70s and early '80s along with tributes to retro-pop culture, exhibits and food. Missing Persons, the M-80s, a Rocky Horror tribute, and '80s hitmakers Berlin (``Take My Breath Away,'' the love theme from ``Top Gun'') open the festivities fes·tiv·i·ty n. pl. fes·tiv·i·ties 1. A joyous feast, holiday, or celebration; a festival. 2. The pleasure, joy, and gaiety of a festival or celebration. 3. tonight. Saturday has rockabilly kings Big Sandy & his Fly-Rite Boys, '70s heartthrob Leif Garrett, the Groove Daddies, Sam Moore (of Sam & Dave), the Sugarhill Gang (with Grandmaster Melle Mel) and the Ohio Players. Sunday, the original cast of Beatlemania joins the Turtles, Dick Dale, Mitch Ryder and others. The Santa Monica Civic is at 1855 Main St., Santa Monica. Doors open at 6 tonight, noon Saturday and 11 a.m. Sunday. The all-day $15 ticket (free for kids under 12) includes admission to all events on the day of purchase. Information: (877) 467-3876. - Fred Shuster television Odd and British: ``The League of Gentlemen'' opens with deceptive innocence - a young man wanders into the bucolic British village of Royston Vasey to meet a pal - but quickly and hysterically becomes ever more twisted. Among the less demented, merely venal VENAL. Something that is bought. The term is generally applied in a bad sense; as, a venal office is an office which has been purchased. , characters: An unemployment officer who thwarts her subjects' attempts to find gainful gain·ful adj. Providing a gain; profitable: gainful employment. gain  ful·ly adv. work; she reasons that people are like pens:
``If they don't work, you shake them. And if they still don't
work you chuck them away.''
Among the most bizarre: Tubbs and Edward, a (literally) porcine porcine /por·cine/ (por´sin) pertaining to swine. porcine pertaining to pig. See also hog (1), swine. porcine circovirus 1 a nonpathogenic virus. couple who will go to any length - even engaging in disturbing ritualistic rit·u·al·is·tic adj. 1. Relating to ritual or ritualism. 2. Advocating or practicing ritual. rit sacrifices - to obstruct a proposed freeway from coming through town, or even to prevent anyone but upstanding local people from patronizing their knickknack knick·knack also nick·nack n. A small ornamental article; a trinket. [Reduplication of knack.] Noun 1. shop. All characters are played by three actors - Mark Gatiss, Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith - who boast a lot of verve and versatility (they also wrote the series with Jeremy Dyson). It provides shocking gags in healthy jolts (or unhealthy, depending on your sensibility - expect to witness the demise of a lot of animals) and boasts some fresh, distinctive comedy in the midst Adv. 1. in the midst - the middle or central part or point; "in the midst of the forest"; "could he walk out in the midst of his piece?" midmost of the summer doldrums. BBC America will present a six-episode, three-hour marathon of ``The League of Gentlemen'' at 5 p.m. Saturday, repeating 5 p.m. Sunday. - David Kronke CAPTION(S): 4 Photos Photo: (1) William H. Macy, left, Ben Stiller and Hank Azaria are quirky superheroes Superheroes are fictional heroes who possess abilities beyond those of normal human beings. Superheroes may also refer to:
(2) TAPSCOTT (3) Big Sandy & his Fly-Rite Boys are on Saturday's RetroFest bill at the Santa Monica Civic. (4) One of Steve Pemberton's many roles in ``The League of Gentlemen'' is that of a quirky female unemployment officer. |
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