THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, November 5, 1994 TAG: 9411040087
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MAL VINCENT, MOVIE CRITIC
LENGTH: Short : 48 lines
BURSTING WITH vitality, this sock-it-to-'em comedy-drama about a Puerto Rican woman's life in the Bronx is as hilarious as it is poignant. It's a stunning directorial debut for Darnell Martin, who crafted the hectic screenplay from her own life.
In the role of Lysette - the wife and mother who has everything coming at her at once - Lauren Velez has the rambunctious charisma of a young Anna Magnani.
Her likable, dumb husband (Jon Seda) is hauled off to jail, leaving Lysette to care for the children and to try and raise bail.
If this were ``Norma Rae,'' the heroine would rise above it. Not Lysette. Her triumph is not in getting out but getting on. She thrives on shouting. To shout is to exist, and nothing stops her - not meddlesome neighbors, a sexpot eyeing her husband, a treacherous mother-in-law or a lecherous boss.
Lysette is a scrapper. She gets a job advising a couple of rock singers on how to be sexy.
Velez turns in one of the most energetic performances of any year. Since this is a little, independent film, she probably won't get in the Oscar race, but she should.
One by one, the complex, distinctive characters are trotted out to amaze and entertain us. Rita Moreno is the mother-in-law from hell who encourages her son to run off with the flirt, whose father owns a grocery store. The small son rebels and wants to make money by selling drugs.
Martin not only has a gift for writing dialogue, she also has a fine eye. There isn't a wasted shot in the film. It's paced at the breakneck speed of an MTV video.
``I Like It Like That'' is a hip movie of neighborhood pandemonium. You'll be exhausted, but you'll be exhilarated. It's a real find. MEMO: MOVIE REVIEW
``I Like It Like That''
Cast: Lauren Velez, Jon Seda, Rita Moreno
Director/screenplay: Darnell Martin
MPAA rating: R (sexual situations, nudity, language)
Mal's rating: three and a half stars
Location: Circle 6 in Norfolk by CNB