
DATE: Tuesday, March 25, 1997               TAG: 9703250040

SECTION: DAILY BREAK             PAGE: E7   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Movie Review

SOURCE: BY MAL VINCENT, MOVIE CRITIC 

                                            LENGTH:   62 lines

``SELENA'' PLEASANT, BUT NOT MOVING

IF THE CULT of Selena fans do show up at theaters for the bio-flick ``Selena,'' they will be pleased. It's the new converts, if any, who may well come away knowing little more than when they entered.

``Selena'' is a fan-magazine treatment that turns what might have been the unique drama of Selena Quintanilla Perez into little more than an often-seen rags-to-music-riches plot.

``Selena'' is a breezily entertaining movie that offers an energetic and charming performance by new star Jennifer Lopez in the title role. It fills the time nicely with good feelings about the American dream and familial togetherness. Lopez's lip-syncing to Selena songs is impeccable and she adds what is quite the most heated-up stage impersonation since Angela Basset imitated Tina Turner.

The music, too, is quite pleasant, representing something of a movie breakthrough for Tejano music, a blend of Tex-Mex rhythms and polkas. Disco, pop and R&B influences are clearly there.

That's the thing about ``Selena-the movie.'' It's thoroughly pleasant, often entertaining but never moving. ``La Bamba,'' which was a breakthrough that proved Hispanic stars can be movie subjects, had class consciousness and a drug subplot. The Tina Turner film had familial conflict. But ``Selena,'' in spite of a murder, is all sweetness and mostly light.

Selena is pictured as an ingratiating personality who never lets fame go to her head, has a winsome on-stage presence, and a rapport with her fans. Starting as a child performer in her family's small-time musical group, Los Dinos, she moves steadily upward.

About the only dramatic touch is the controlling manner of her father, who objects to her proposed marriage to bad-boy musician Chris Perez. Since father, Abraham Quintanilla Jr., is the executive producer of the film, you can bet that he isn't pictured as anything resembling a villain. This is no ``Shine.''

Edward James Olmos delivers his usual intense reading as the father. Jon Seda, as Chris, elicits sexual sparks that make Selena's interest in him understandable - and almost turn this into a movie with a character.

The drama of Selina's death, at age 23, is regrettably avoided. You will learn nothing from this film. We merely hear sirens and, suddenly, they are carrying out the body of the star. She was shot in the back by the president of her fan club, Yolanda Saldivar, who is played, as almost a bit part, by Lupe Ontiveros. What went on in that room is not dramatized.

This is a homage that will play beautifully to the converted but can't be expected to snare many new converts. ILLUSTRATION: WARNER BROS.

Jennifer Lopez and Jon Seda star in ``Selena,'' a fan-magazine

treatment of the rags-to-musical-riches life of singer Selena

Quintanilla Perez.

MOVIE REVIEW

``Selena''

Cast: Jennifer Lopez, Edward James Olmos, Jon Seda

Director and Writer: Gregory Nava

Music: Dave Grusin

MPAA rating: PG (little that could be construed offensive)

Mal's rating: **1/2