THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 20, 1995 TAG: 9501190082
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TAMAR ANITAI, TEENOLOGY MOVIE CRITIC
LENGTH: Short : 41 lines
FAMILIES REUNITE for holidays, graduations, bar mitzvahs, weddings and especially catastrophes. In ``Safe Passage,'' the Singer family, a nine-member household with seven sons, knows calamity. But when near tragedy strikes, the family finds they must turn to each other more than ever for support.
The seven brothers range from the take-charge type, to an inquisitive pre-med student, to the frustrated pre-pubescent youngest son. But it is the adventuresome son, Percival, a U.S. Marine stationed in the Sinai desert, who ultimately unites the family.
When Percival's Marine base is bombed, each family member drops what he or she is doing to return home. It is then that each rediscovers the bonds they hold for one another.
The mother, played by Susan Sarandon, is an eccentrically crazy, high-strung, classical-music blasting, loving woman with the amazing ability to adapt to each son's needs. Her smothering is at times rejected, sometimes embraced - providing what each son might be missing. Although somewhat melodramatic, the plot is well-developed with most of the characters displaying interesting idiosyncrasies. The problems of the Singer family are apparent, but so are their love and respect.
Included in the cast are Sam Shepard - as the craggy father - with sons played by Robert Sean Leonard, Sean Astin, Nick Stahl, Jason London, Matt Keeslar, Philip Arthur Ross and Steven Arthur Ross.
``Safe Passage'' is a humorous, heart-wrenching story that reaffirms the importance of family. It will make you want to abandon the Bundys and move in with the Singers. MEMO: ``Safe Passage'' is rated PG-13. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Tamar Anitai is a junior at First Colonial High.
by CNB