THIS RIVALRY IS GETTING STALE.Byline: David Kronke TV Critic MEN AND WOMEN - go figure! That's the hoary hoar·y adj. hoar·i·er, hoar·i·est 1. Gray or white with or as if with age. 2. Covered with grayish hair or pubescence: hoary leaves. 3. bulletin issued by ``Women vs. Men,'' a comedy about two marriages absorbing what ultimately amounts to fairly petty crises. As the Showtime production opens, Dana (Christine Lahti) has left Michael (Joe Mantegna) because he gave her a new Cadillac as a gift (I sorta have to say, I'm with her on this one). Bruce (Paul Reiser) comes over to commiserate com·mis·er·ate v. com·mis·er·at·ed, com·mis·er·at·ing, com·mis·er·ates v.tr. To feel or express sorrow or pity for; sympathize with. v.intr. , while his wife, Brit (Glenne Headly), lends a sympathetic ear to Dana. On her way home, Dana sees Michael and Bruce venture into the night - to a strip club where they get lap dances. (again, I gotta say, I'm with her on this one, too). Needless to say, things get ugly before they get maudlin maud·lin adj. Effusively or tearfully sentimental: "displayed an almost maudlin concern for the welfare of animals" Aldous Huxley. See Synonyms at sentimental. . The film is crummily structured, with a bunch of random flashbacks to past missed opportunities and miscommunications, but the story really goes off the rails with a subplot sub·plot n. 1. A plot subordinate to the main plot of a literary work or film. Also called counterplot, underplot. 2. A subdivision of a plot of land, especially a plot used for experimental purposes. involving Robert Pastorelli playing a friend of the guys who's a ``spiritual womanizer wom·an·ize v. woman·ized, woman·iz·ing, woman·iz·es v.intr. To pursue women lecherously. v.tr. To give female characteristics to; feminize. .'' What rescues it from tedium is David J. Burke's quippy script, channeling Neil Simon - enough of the one-liners are amusing enough to keep the film engaging. And the cast invests a lot of commitment to even the weaker material. ``Women vs. Men'' has absolutely nothing new to contribute to the whole Venus/Mars, can't-live-with-'em dilemma, but no one really expects it to. And there are enough gags to make these four characters' long, dark night of the soul a pleasant enough diversion from your own spousal bickering bick·er intr.v. bick·ered, bick·er·ing, bick·ers 1. To engage in a petty, bad-tempered quarrel; squabble. See Synonyms at argue. 2. . WOMEN VS. MEN - Two and one half stars What: Battle of the sexes comedy featuring Paul Reiser, Christine Lahti, Joe Mantegna and Glenne Headly duking it out. Where: Showtime. When: 8 tonight; also Aug. 21 and 27. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Glenne Headly and Paul Reiser play wife and husband on Showtime's ``Women vs. Men.'' |
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