THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, April 25, 1996 TAG: 9604250025
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E5 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Movie Review
SOURCE: BY MAL VINCENT, MOVIE CRITIC
LENGTH: Medium: 56 lines
``BRAIN CANDY,'' the big-screen debut of that irreverent gang of cable-television cut-ups known as Kids In the Hall, may be too hip for its own commercial good.
The five Kids, who collectively play a total of 32 roles in this wildly offbeat comedy, are social satirists, not low-comedy farcists. Unlike the more mindless (and successful) movie comedies in town, they don't stoop to food fights, toilet jokes or general falling about. One is ominously reminded that the theater veteran George Abbott once said ``Satire closes on Saturday night.''
The ``plot'' meandering as it is, opens on a sad world as a cab driver, who narrates, warns us not to expect a happy ending. A prominently displayed sign advises us that ``Less is All.''
In this world, Dr. Chris Cooper's new pill, Gleemonex (the brain candy of the title), is a big hit. It encourages folks to fixate on their happiest experience ever - and stay there.
In the first week of sales, sales for Gleemonex top penicillin. There are eventual side effects though. Eventually, people go into a coma, stuck in their happiest moment.
Eventually the realization comes that, after all, people are meant to be depressed once in a while.
All five of the Kids play varied roles, and sexes. Bruce McCulloch plays the villainous corporate head as well as Cancer Boy and a vapid ingenue. Kevin McDonald plays the inventor as well as his dad. Mark McKinney plays both a macho drill sergeant and a female talk show host. David Foley (the only Kid who was not involved in the writing and has subsequently threatened to bolt the group) has four roles. Among other parts, Scott Thompson plays the Queen of England as well as a fashion superstar named Clemptor.
Pleasingly, the film doesn't attempt to recreate the sketch humor of the TV show (currently revived on Comedy Central) but tries for an 88-minute film that holds together. This humor isn't for everyone, but it is constantly unpredictable and very often tremendously bright. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
MOVIE REVIEW
``Kids In the Hall:
Brain Candy''
Cast: David Foley, Bruce McCulloch, Kevin McDonald, Mark
McKinney, Scott Thompson, Janeane Garofalo
MPAA rating: R (language, irreverent humor)
Mal's rating: 3 stars
Location: Janaf, Norfolk
by CNB