Page 40 - ThePhoenix1986-87

Page 10lWestern Maryland College/October 23,1986 ~ Craig Cecil Playing for Keeps offers weak plot, strong music I thought movies were built on Hotel Majestic, a run-down dump opening clip the foundations start the townspeople and the teens, the asking a lot of an audience's storylines and characters, not the located in the country which to crumble. result may have been much better. imagination. leaves a lot Playing for Keeps soundtrack that acompanies them. hasn't been open for 25 yean. It seems as if the story's writers Instead, they decided to use those Anyone who has seen the trailer Danny, always the opportunist, Bob and Harvey Weinstein either worn-out stereotypes that of loose ends dangling in the or an advertisement for the new convinces his friends to help him stuffed more things than they audiences have grown accustomed story. For instance, in the movie Playing for Keeps will raise the $8000 he needs to pay could properly handle into the to in order to produce a few beginning of the movie, Danny recognize that Universal Pictures off the hotel's" back taxes. When movie, or they couldn't decide laughs. and two of his friends dress up as is promoting this movie through Danny arrives in the country and which way the movie should The stereotypes come into play boy scouts and sell Thin Mints to its soundtrack. All of the sees the Majestic, he realizes there progress. The result of this heavily by the mid-point of the raise the $8000 they need. That's recording artists' names are is going to be a lot more work apparent confusion is a mish- film and continue through to the a lot of Thin Mints, and they prominent1y displayed in big, than he thought. To complicate mash of scenes which jumps end. There's a geeky, electronics manage to raise the money in a bold letters, while all other matters, Cromwell, a local town around the main story and wiz who looks like he came mere two minutes onscreen. Yet contributors' names are scrawled official, wants to build a chemical suddenly branches off onto straight out of Revenge of the later on, when they're in the in small print. By doing this refinery where the hotel is unimportant, unrelated tangents. Nerds and uses his gadgets to country and need money, they Universal Pictures hopes to attract presently located. In order to play havoc with juke boxes in the can't make any. Maybe the the attention (and money) of the achieve his plan Cromwell turns There are many (maybe too town. There's also a character writers intended it as a pun. You vast adolescent audience. I the local community against the many) sub-plots emphasized to who would risk life and limb to know, maybe there's two of 'em wondered if Playing for Keeps newly arrived band of teenage city- some degree. One such sub-plot obtain any form of narcotic and born every minute in New York would be yet another typical dwellers. But Danny, not to be is the conflict between the who could've been plucked right City, instead of one. teenage-type flick, or (hopefully) defeated, proclaims 10 his peers, teenagers and the older members out of any bad teenage comedy This is not to say that Playing a real surprise like The Sure "This will be the biggest game of of the community into which from the past decade. for Keeps doesn't contain any Trong or The Breakfast Club . Christopher Columbus ever they have arrived. The good scenes. On the contrary, Now I know. played and this time we're playing townspeople urged on by Another typical character is there are several the ingenious little movie where scenes can for keeps." Cromwell see the adolescents as a Rockefeller (Harold Gould), a Daniel Jordana stars as 'Danny', The movie begins spectacularly youthful enemies who want to mysterious hermit who resides in produce smiles if not laughs. But a.New York City teenager who with a striking surrealistic bring change to their stable the Hotel Majestic. Rockefeller unfortunately the writers turned sees life after high school as a entourage of New York City as community, when in fact becomes Danny's mentor because this film into just another poorly never-endingsequenceofpart-time Pete Townshend belts out the Cromwell _is the real enemy evidently he was the only executed teen-comedy. The theme jobs. For Danny, finding a decent movie's title song. The playing on their ignorance. It stereotypical Obi-Wan-Kenobi- of working hard to make your job is like the games of soundtrack is impressive with the becomes amodem day city-mouse- type included anywhere in the dreams come true is admirable, Christopher Columbus (a modem- list of performers reading like a visits-the-country-mouse story. When the money even if poorly implemented. day variation of hide-and-seek) who's who of rock music. This arrangement where each group's situation gets tight, Rockefeller Only the soundtrack manages to which he plays against rival list boasts such big-names as Phil lifestyle presents a barrier which reveals to Danny that he used to raise this film a notch above the . gangs in the city. Almost Collins, Arcadia, Julian Lennon, the other group tries to destroy. be a stock market wizard on Wall majority in its class. accidentally he finds out that his Peter Frampton, and many, many If the writers had based this Street, and he can help Danny get In this case, Playing for Keeps family inherited the deed to the others. However, after that great movie on the differences between the money he needs. That's loses. ......CAPBoard Presents . Psycho II Fri., Oct. 31 HALLOWEEN 7 & 9 pm & special midnight showing for all you ghouls and goblins! $1 1j, off admission w/costume All proceeds go to Food for Carroll County! I Fall break I THE HITCHER Have a relaxing for and get psyched Feel the suspense TONIGHT I PARENTS WEEKEND Nov. 7 - ~ 7 & 9 pm FREE! Munchies served