LAKE PLACID

1999

Ever seen JAWS? Well, this is JAWS with a crocodile. Sound dumb? I think so, too. But, this movie pulls it off and it does it because three of the stars (Bridget Fonda, Oliver Platt, and Brendan Gleason) are so fun to watch ripping on each other (and Maine) throughout the whole movie... and its very sarcastic, very witty and very funny. Bill Pullman plays his typical slightly-lame hero role and Betty White is hilarious as an old lady who lives on the lake. There is not a whole lot of killing, but there is a lot of monster and it all looks very real. If you like a good creature feature and just want to see a movie that's fun and will not require a lot of thought, see this one.

3.5 Stars

CDF

Who would have thought that the movie that sounded like the joke of the week, would turn out to be the SLEEPER of the week? We should have realized that something written and produced by David E. Kelley couldn't be bad. Go with tongue firmly planted in cheek, and you'll enjoy this hilarious spoof of the monster-in-the-deep genre. The dialogue is witty, the acting is right on target with Oliver Platt and Brendan Gleason vying for the funniest lines, Betty White in an acting job that has to be heard to be believed, and with Bridget Fonda expertly playing an Ally McBeal-type paleontologist. The story moves as quickly and as believably as does the very SCARY crocodile in pursuit of his victims. Great special effects, but the dialogue, acting, and story are what make this film so terrific.

4 Stars

NJB