THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, June 6, 1995 TAG: 9506060033
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MAL VINCENT, MOVIE CRITIC
LENGTH: Long : 133 lines
AT ONE POINT in ``Fluke,'' Nancy Travis looks at the sad-eyed star of this new film and mutters, ``You could sell ice cubes to the Eskimos.''
Indeed, the winsome golden retriever may have to be just that persuasive to woo ticket buyers. ``Fluke'' wants to be a family flick but comes off as too heavy for children and too wacky for adults. At varying times, it deals with death, reincarnation and revenge - serious topics to push on little kids who just want to see the dog do funny things.
``Fluke'' is not what you'd expect, which, in most cases, would be good. Here, it comes off as merely confusing. The film will have trouble snaring the family trade away from ``Casper'' and the soon-to-arrive ``Pocohantas.''
Matthew Modine, who gets top billing but actually has little more than a bit role, is first seen as a stuffy yuppie who is run off the road
and dies when his car hits a tree.
After a flash of colored lights, he is promptly reincarnated as a rust-colored doggie who goes through some interesting, and traumatic, adventures. His mom is hauled off to the pound. So is he, but he easily escapes. He's taken in by a street beggar but is left alone when she dies. After making friends with a mutt named Rumbo, he is adopted by a junkyard owner - only to eventually find his way back to his human family
Spotting that Eric Stoltz, his former business partner, is romancing his former wife, Fluke goes for the jugular - or at least the calf - becoming the Charles Bronson of the canine set. (He believes Stoltz caused his death and, in any case, doesn't go for the idea of this nerd inheriting his family).
Comet, the dog star of the ABC sitcom ``Full House,'' is irresistible as Fluke. If only the humans, especially the screenwriters, would stay out of the way. Carlo Carlei directs with an ultra-serious bent that provides practically no humor.
Modine, who hasn't turned in a good performance since his impressive breakthrough as a Vietnam vet in ``Birdy,'' is, mercifully, off-screen for most of the movie. We learn that his character, when alive, was a workaholic who had little time for his family. Travis is likable as his former wife, but is saddled with having to also suggest confusion.
Max Pomeranc, so good in ``Searching for Bobby Fisher,'' is the dewy-eyed son whose love for Fluke is a tonic to watch. Samuel L. Jackson, who seems intent upon appearing in every movie made, is the hip voice of Rumbo.
Much of the movie is shot from a dog's-eye view, which means the camerapersons must have had a groveling time of it during filming.
There are some interesting twists at the film's conclusion, but by then, the heaviness and quirkiness of it all may have diluted most of the fun.
AT ONE POINT in ``Fluke,'' Nancy Travis looks at the sad-eyed star of this new film and mutters, ``You could sell ice cubes to the Eskimos.''
Indeed, the winsome golden retriever may have to be just that persuasive to woo ticket buyers. ``Fluke'' wants to be a family flick but comes off as too heavy for children and too wacky for adults. At varying times, it deals with death, reincarnation and revenge - serious topics to push on little kids who just want to see the dog do funny things.
``Fluke'' is not what you'd expect, which, in most cases, would be good. Here, it comes off as merely confusing. The film will have trouble snaring the family trade away from ``Casper'' and the soon-to-arrive ``Pocohantas.''
Matthew Modine, who gets top billing but actually has little more than a bit role, is first seen as a stuffy yuppie who is run off the road
and dies when his car hits a tree.
After a flash of colored lights, he is promptly reincarnated as a rust-colored doggie who goes through some interesting, and traumatic, adventures. His mom is hauled off to the pound. So is he, but he easily escapes. He's taken in by a street beggar but is left alone when she dies. After making friends with a mutt named Rumbo, he is adopted by a junkyard owner - only to eventually find his way back to his human family
Seeing that Eric Stoltz, his former business partner, is romancing his former wife, Fluke goes for the jugular - or at least the calf - becoming the Charles Bronson of the canine set. (He believes Stoltz caused his death and, in any case, doesn't go for the idea of this nerd inheriting his family).
Comet, the dog star of the ABC sitcom ``Full House,'' is irresistible as Fluke. If only the humans, especially the screenwriters, would stay out of the way. Carlo Carlei directs with an ultra-serious bent that provides practically no humor.
Modine, who hasn't turned in a good performance since his impressive breakthrough as a Vietnam vet in ``Birdy,'' is, mercifully, off-screen for most of the movie. We learn that his character, when alive, was a workaholic who had little time for his family. Travis is likable as his former wife but is saddled with having to also suggest confusion.
Max Pomeranc, so good in ``Searching for Bobby Fisher,'' is the dewy-eyed son whose love for Fluke is a tonic to watch. Samuel L. Jackson, who seems intent on appearing in every movie made, is the hip voice of Rumbo.
Much of the movie is shot from a dog's-eye view, which means the camerapersons must have had a groveling time of it during filming.
There are some interesting twists at the film's conclusion, but by then, the heaviness and quirkiness of it all may have diluted most of the fun.
AT ONE POINT in ``Fluke,'' Nancy Travis looks at the sad-eyed star of this new film and mutters, ``You could sell ice cubes to the Eskimos.''
Indeed, the winsome golden retriever may have to be just that persuasive to woo ticket buyers. ``Fluke'' wants to be a family flick but comes off as too heavy for children and too wacky for adults. At varying times, it deals with death, reincarnation and revenge - serious topics to push on little kids who just want to see the dog do funny things.
``Fluke'' is not what you'd expect, which, in most cases, would be good. Here, it comes off as merely confusing. The film will have trouble snaring the family trade away from ``Casper'' and the soon-to-arrive ``Pocohantas.''
Matthew Modine, who gets top billing but actually has little more than a bit role, is first seen as a stuffy yuppie who is run off the road and dies when his car hits a tree.
After a flash of colored lights, he is promptly reincarnated as a rust-colored doggie who goes through some interesting, and traumatic, adventures. His mom is hauled off to the pound. So is he, but he easily escapes. He's taken in by a street beggar but is left alone when she dies. After making friends with a mutt named Rumbo, he is adopted by a junkyard owner - only to eventually find his way back to his human family
Spotting that Eric Stoltz, his former business partner, is romancing his former wife, Fluke goes for the jugular - or at least the calf - becoming the Charles Bronson of the canine set. (He believes Stoltz caused his death and, in any case, doesn't go for the idea of this nerd inheriting his family).
Comet, the dog star of the ABC sitcom ``Full House,'' is irresistible as Fluke. If only the humans, especially the screenwriters, would stay out of the way. Carlo Carlei directs with an ultra-serious bent that provides practically no humor.
Modine, who hasn't turned in a good performance since his impressive breakthrough as a Vietnam vet in ``Birdy,'' is, mercifully, off-screen for most of the movie. We learn that his character, when alive, was a workaholic who had little time for his family. Travis is likable as his former wife, but is saddled with having to also suggest confusion.
Max Pomeranc, so good in ``Searching for Bobby Fisher,'' is the dewy-eyed son whose love for Fluke is a tonic to watch. Samuel L. Jackson, who seems intent upon appearing in every movie made, is the hip voice of Rumbo.
Much of the movie is shot from a dog's-eye view, which means the camerapersons must have had a groveling time of it during filming.
There are some interesting twists at the film's conclusion, but by then, the heaviness and quirkiness of it all may have diluted most of the fun. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
Nancy Travis, center, with "Fluke" co-stars...
by CNB