THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, October 4, 1995 TAG: 9510040696
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E3 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Movie Review
SOURCE: BY MAL VINCENT, MOVIE CRITIC
LENGTH: Medium: 76 lines
WHILE ``JEFFREY'' might not laugh away the AIDS crisis, it does make a valiant attempt to wisecrack it away.
Writer Paul Rudnick is a tremendously witty fellow who aims barbs at everything from ``Les Miz'' to ``Cats'' with varied political and social targets in between.
Rudnick is adept at one-liners in a naughty, satirical way that makes Neil Simon look old hat. Simon, though, at least tried to become a playwright after making a fortune on his jokes. There is little evidence in ``Jeffrey'' that Rudnick is interested in becoming either a playwright or a screenwriter. He's too busy having fun dishing out one-liners.
``Jeffrey'' was a hit off-Broadway play. The film adaptation betrays its background via an episodic use of flashbacks and TV-like skits. A writer's easiest crutch is to resort to having his characters speak directly to the camera. They do it often here.
The central character is a bemused gay fella who swears off sex forever because of the AIDS plague. No sooner does he make the big decision than he meets the ultimate Mr. Right, a hunk he spots in the gym.
Steven Weber of TV's ``Wings,'' is likable enough in the title role, but he doesn't come close to mining the comic possibilities. (Can you imagine what a young Bobby Morse or a young Walter Matthau could have done with a role like this?) The part requires Everyman uncertainty as much as it does good-looking appeal. Weber is an actor, not a clown. This Everyman is a bit serious to be so comically perplexed, if that is the point.
Michael T. Weiss is the nice guy who is the subject of Jeffrey's attention. The choice is made more difficult when he forthrightly reveals that he is HIV-positive.
Patrick Stewart steals most of his scenes by being no more than flamboyant. He's an aging interior designer who gives home and heart to a chorus boy from ``Cats'' (Bryan Batt). Stewart, a veteran of the Starship Enterprise, is not self-conscious and comparatively level-headed in approaching the part.
This is not so much a movie, though, as it is a series of scenes - TV skit episodes that play quickly. If you don't like one, another will follow. The best, perhaps, is Sigourney Weaver as a know-it-all, gung-ho TV healer who feeds her audience cliches. Weaver proves here, after all her recent movie travails, that she does have a sense of humor.
Kathy Najimy, with eyes crossed, is one of her audience converts.
Nathan Lane is a naughty priest who hopes for more lurid confessions. Olympia Dukakis (the Dukakis who actually won something - an Oscar) plays a mom who understands that her son is now a transsexual. She plans to ride in the ``pride'' parade with him. Christine Baranski (of TV's ``Cybill'') is a socialite who hosts a hoedown to raise money.
This hetero-friendly comedy is filled with fresh ideas. Don't, however, expect a plot. If you're content with persistent jokes, delivered at a fast pace, this will be enough. ILLUSTRATION: MICHAEL GINSBERG
Orion Pictures
Stars of ``Jeffrey'' are, from left, Bryan Batt, Patrick Stewart,
Steven Weber and Michael T. Weiss.
Graphic
MOVIE REVIEW
``Jeffrey''
Cast: Steven Weber, Michael T. Weiss, Patrick Stewart, Bryan
Batt, Christine Baranski, Nathan Lane, Kathy Najimy, Olympia
Dukakis, Sigourney Weaver
Director: Christopher Ashley
Screenplay: Paul Rudnick
MPAA rating: R (language, sexual situations)
Mal's rating: Two 1/2 stars
Location: Naro in Norfolk
by CNB