THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, November 4, 1994               TAG: 9411040071
SECTION: DAILY BREAK              PAGE: E11  EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY TAMAR ANITAI, TEENOLOGY MOVIE CRITIC 
                                             LENGTH: Medium:   55 lines

``WELLVILLE'' REPULSIVE, BUT IT'S ALSO FUNNY FILM REVIEW

FROM THE MAKER of one of America's most beloved breakfast cereals, Kellogg's Corn Flakes, we are served a hilarious new comedy about an ahead-of-its-time health movement that erupted at the turn of the century.

In ``The Road to Wellville,'' the Battle Creek Sanitarium, founded by Dr. John Kellogg, the Corn Flake czar himself, is the ``Temple of Health.''

Kellogg's beliefs - ``clean bowels are the key to healthy living'' - and other questionable prescriptions, are ingrained into the minds and bodies of the sanitarium's ``patients.'' They also get several enemas each day, take yogurt baths and endure primitive forms of exfoliation.

Sex is discouraged because, according to Kellogg, it is detrimental to one's physical and mental health. But wouldn't you know; naughty little rendezvous transpire behind closed doors. Meanwhile, Kellogg's vengeful, lunatic son is frolicking about the sanitarium tormenting the guests and spying on nude women.

In real life, the Battle Creek Sanitarium was a mecca of outlandish and questionable medicinal practices. In the movie, its fanatical patrons faithfully entrust their bodies and minds to its hilariously absurd treatments. The story is based on a novel by the same name by T. Coraghessan Boyle.

The star-studded cast includes Anthony Hopkins, who energetically portrays Dr. Kellogg. Dana Carvey, who is side-splitting in absolutely anything, plays Kellogg's son. Matthew Broderick is wonderful, too, but he will go to his grave as Ferris Bueller. Bridget Fonda and John Cusack also have parts.

The pleasing performances warrant no complaints. The plot, however, is another story. It is entertaining, humorous and fast-paced but is without purpose. A few scenes were simply repulsive and unnecessary, even to a liberal viewer like myself. Still, ``The Road to Wellville'' was entertaining with its burlesque humor, clever innuendos and shameless style. It succeeds in captivating its audience.

Whoever thought that behind a breakfast cereal dwells such a lively, piquant history? I'll think twice before eating Corn Flakes again. MEMO: ``The Road to Wellville'' is rated R, those under 17 not admitted

without parent or guardian. ILLUSTRATION: Photos

Tamar Anitai is a junior at First Colonial High.

COLUMBIA

From left, Camryn Manheim, Bridget Fonda and Norbert Weisser are

caught off guard in ``The Road to Wellville.''

by CNB