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© St. Petersburg Times, published October 24, 2002
It takes one to watch one
The continuing erosion of Western civilization is displayed in Jackass: The Movie (R), proving again that there's a masochist born every minute, along with thousands of suckers willing to pay to watch them suffer. Jackass, the MTV reality series, became notorious for its health-defying stunts performed by Johnny Knoxville (Men in Black II) and his gang of equally foolish idiots: baking themselves like potatoes over open flames, doing swan dives off houses and generally disrupting the peace. The result makes bruises and broken bones seem like badges of honor and coolness. A movie version protected with an R rating can only make matters worse. Raising the danger level involves live alligators, supermarket jousting and vandalizing a golf course. Paramount Pictures is playing off as a promotional joke that such stunts shouldn't be tried at home. This one feels like a lawsuit waiting to happen.
Just in time for Halloween -- and probably forgotten by that date -- comes Ghost Ship (R), a movie that just about says it all with its title. There's this passenger ship lost in 1953 then discovered a half-century later by salvagers, and these ghosts are on it and, well, you can guess the rest. What you can't figure out is why talented actors, including Julianna Margulies (formerly of ER), Gabriel Byrne (The Usual Suspects) and Ron Eldard (Black Hawk Down), are subjecting themselves to running through dark hallways and screaming at special effects. Ghost Ship is directed by Steve Beck, who inflicted Thirteen Ghosts on moviegoers last year.
Moviegoers could walk to Reno, Nev., in less time than it has taken Wakin' Up in Reno to reach theaters. The road trip comedy was originally slated to open in April 2001, then it was pushed back to August of that year. Then it was expected to arrive in February but delayed until Friday. I would say I'll believe when I see it but I really have no desire to see Wakin' Up in Reno. Billy Bob Thornton, Charlize Theron, Patrick Swayze and Natasha Richardson play married redneck couples traveling to a monster truck rally in Reno. They might as well detour to Chicago and be guests on Jerry Springer's show since Lonnie Earl (Thornton) is having an affair with Candy (Theron) while Roy (Swayze) makes eyes at Darlene (Richardson). Expect goofy roadside attractions and distractions, plus actors looking much younger than the last time you watched them.