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IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY
The Douglas clan's answer to the Fondas' On Golden Pond might easily have been called On Golden Turkey, as a wretched beginning initially hints that this might end up as one of the year's worst films. Fortunately for all involved (and none more so than the audience), this schizophrenic, everything-but-the-kitchen-sink-and-we're-even-considering-that melodrama rights itself enough to ascend to the level of a rampaging mediocrity. Kirk Douglas, a welcome presence who nevertheless is only onscreen to toss off one-liners, plays Mitchell Gromberg, the crusty patriarch of a New York family, with real-life family members cast as his wife (Diana Douglas, in reality his former spouse), his son (Michael Douglas), and his grandson (Cameron Douglas). Along with the other members of the Gromberg household (Bernadette Peters as Michael's wife and Rory Culkin as their youngest son), they must cope with petty squabbles, potential affairs, underachieving offspring, flatulent relatives, and other factors that prevent them from becoming as cozy a clan as the Waltons. This overreaching Family affair, numbly directed by Fred Schepisi (Six Degrees of Separation), was clearly a labor of love for Kirk and Michael, who had never appeared together on screen before this -- it's a lovely sentiment, but hardly worth the price of admission.
OPENS FRIDAY:
DADDY DAY CARE: Eddie Murphy, Anjelica Huston.
A MIGHTY WIND: Christopher Guest, Eugene Levy.
30 YEARS TO LIFE: Melissa De Sousa, Tracy Morgan.
CATCH ME IF YOU CAN
From its snazzy opening credits to John Williams' infectious, Oscar-nominated score, Steven Spielberg's most recent hit feels like nothing so much as pure old-fashioned escapism, with the director in an especially playful mood. Inspired by a true story, this stars Leonardo DiCaprio (in a smooth, charismatic performance) as a brainy teenager who manages to successfully impersonate a pilot, a doctor, a lawyer and a teacher while staying a few steps ahead of a persistent FBI agent (Tom Hanks, very good). Because this is a Spielberg project, you can bet that some poignant subtext involving splintered family units will come into play (Oscar nominee Christopher Walken does a nice job as DiCaprio's perpetually weary dad), but for the most part, this is engaging, stress-free entertainment -- just kick back and enjoy. Extras on the imaginatively designed, two-disc DVD include a making-of piece and features on the cast and score.
EQUILIBRIUM
Fahrenheit 451 plus 1984 divided by THX-1138 multiplied by The Matrix squared by Blade Runner and rounded off to Logan's Run -- but subtracting much in the way of compelling developments -- equals Equilibrium, a futuristic yarn in which anyone who expresses any feelings -- especially toward art, literature and puppy dogs -- is immediately terminated, leaving only a bunch of pill-popping drones to populate the planet. Naturally, a few folks decide to rebel. Some nifty (if absurd) fight sequences and an appropriately iron-jawed turn by Christian Bale provide this otherwise forgettable yarn with its own sense of equilibrium. DVD features include commentary by director Kurt Wimmer and a making-of feature.
-- Matt Brunson