|
|
|
REVIEWSPREVIEWS: White Chicks
From the moment you lay your eyes on the very first scene where the two male leads overact to the hilt, you know White Chicks is an atrociously bad comedy film.
Two FBI agents botch an attempt to lure smugglers into their lair and end up babysitting two rich brats — the Wilson sisters — as probation. To protect them from potential kidnappers, both the FBI agents pose as the girls for a weekend and what follows is their trying every trick in the book to have the audience laughing, but getting nowhere.
It’s mind-boggling to think that White Chicks is directed by the same Wayan brothers who brought us Scary Movie. Marlon and Shawn Wayans play the two agents while their elder brother; Keenen Ivory Wayans, takes up the director’s seat. Although the same line of humour has been employed, the effect is quite the opposite.
While the Wilson sisters’ characters are probably based on the Hilton sisters, Paris and Nikki, the movie itself is rumoured to be vaguely inspired by the 1959’s classic Some Like It Hot, though there’s hardly any similarity. Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon were far too good to be afforded the insult of being compared to the Wayan brothers. There have been many drag films that didn’t make it — this is another.—Saqib Khan
.jpg)
Princess Diaries 2
Another addition to this mushrooming flock is Princess Dairies 2: The Royal Engagement; sequel to 2001’s runaway hit, The Princess Dairies, which was based on Meg Cabot’s novel of the same name.
When we last left the gauche teenager Mia Thermopolis (Anne Hathaway), Princess of Genovia, she was coming to terms with her newfound royal status. In the sequel, we fast forward to Mia’s 21st birthday. As her grandmother is about to hand her the Genovian crown, Mia learns that Genovian laws clearly dictate that she first get married. She must bind herself into holy matrimony or risk losing the crown in 30 days. As a side-show, Queen Clarisse Renaldi (Julie Andrews) is pursuing her own little fling with her head of security, Joe (Hector Elizondo).
Julie Andrews is the real star of the show. After the classic Mary Poppins, this remains Andrew’s most memorable performance to date. Hathaway once again manages to make a complete fool of herself in every frame (as her role requires her to) and plays the part of a goofy dupe with grace. But the movie is threadbare on the plot and overall cliched. If nothing else, watch to hear Andrew flex her vocal chords in the ballad, Your Crowning Glory.—Taimur Saleem
|
|
|
|
