HUMOR, BELIEVABILITY GO SOUTH IN 'CHASING PAPI'.Byline: Glenn Whipp Film Critic THE DREADFUL slapstick slapstick Comedy characterized by broad humour, absurd situations, and vigorous, often violent action. It took its name from a paddlelike device, probably introduced by 16th-century commedia dell'arte troupes, that produced a resounding whack when one comic actor used it to comedy ``Chasing Papi'' is credited to four writers. The division of labor must have gone something like this: One writer watched ``Weekend at Bernie's Weekend at Bernie's is an American motion picture comedy released in 1989. Directed by Ted Kotcheff, it stars Andrew McCarthy and Jonathan Silverman as a couple of young executives who must create the illusion that their murdered boss, Bernie Lomax, is alive in order to .'' Another studied Shakira videos. Another caught a ``Three's Company'' marathon. And the fourth - well, God only knows, especially considering ``Papi'' runs only 75 minutes without credits and the movie begins recycling its stale pile of jokes about 10 minutes into the thing. What's sad is that the producers of this undemanding comedy believe they've created something important. To them, ``Chasing Papi'' is a ``big glossy movie that reflects (Latinos') lives, culture and humor.'' In reality, the movie only proves that Latinos can make idiotic, formulaic comedies that are as terrible and demeaning de·mean 1 tr.v. de·meaned, de·mean·ing, de·means To conduct or behave (oneself) in a particular manner: demeaned themselves well in class. as anything white people could produce. And that's too bad "That's Too Bad" is the debut single by Tubeway Army, the band which provided the initial musical vehicle for Gary Numan. It was released in February 1978 by independent London record label Beggars Banquet. , because there is, in fact, a lot about the lives, culture and humor of Latinos that would make for interesting, vibrant and relevant movies. But the slick ``Papi'' is more concerned with catering to the lowest common denominator low·est common denominator n. 1. See least common denominator. 2. a. The most basic, least sophisticated level of taste, sensibility, or opinion among a group of people. b. by offering dumb sitcom humor wrapped around an empty journey to self-discovery. The movie opens, appropriately enough, with a cartoon sequence showing the life and times of Latin lothario Tomas (Mexican soap opera soap opera Broadcast serial drama, characterized by a permanent cast of actors, a continuing story, tangled interpersonal situations, and a melodramatic or sentimental style. star Eduardo Verastegui), the kind of man who can walk by a group of nuns and have one sister gush, ``Is it too late to change my mind?'' Tomas has three girlfriends in three cities: a bookish book·ish adj. 1. Of, relating to, or resembling a book. 2. Fond of books; studious. 3. Relying chiefly on book learning: (in a beauty pageant kind of way) attorney (Roselyn Sanchez), a whiny heiress (Jaci Velasquez) and a Miami waitress (Sofia Vergara) with Charo-like aspirations. The movie's contrived plot requires three things: The women must meet, they must fight, and then they must bond. It does not necessarily require an inane plot involving an FBI sting operation and the world's dumbest criminals. (The feds actually had trouble getting these guys?) And apparently it does require a slavish slav·ish adj. 1. Of or characteristic of a slave or slavery; servile: Her slavish devotion to her job ruled her life. 2. attention to expensive designer brands and that each of the women learn something important, even though the movie is so far-fetched that it seems a bit much to ask that we swallow its stab at relevancy. If ``Papi'' is, as the producers claim, the first of its kind, we can only hope it will also be the last. CHASING PAPI - One star (PG: mild sensuality and language) Starring: Eduardo Verastegui, Roselyn Sanchez, Jaci Velasquez, Sofia Vergara. Director: Linda Mendoza. Running time: 1 hr. 20 min. Playing: Wide release. In a nutshell: Formulaic comedy. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Jaci Velasquez, left, Sofia Vergara and Roselyn Sanchez find that unknowingly sharing a three-timing boyfriend can be a bonding experience in ``Chasing Papi.'' |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion