Thursday, July 07, 2005

Want to know why the box office receipts are slumping?

Look no further than the new Martin Lawrence vehicle Rebound a lazy, half-hearted attempt at comedy that gets the award for being the most predictable film of 2005.

Rebound manages to exhaust every sports clich imaginable in a mere 90 minutes to the point that if you dont already know how this film ends now, then you havent been in a theater in a long, long time.

Rebound tells the story of Roy McCormick, a hot-shot college basketball coach who is banned from the sport after his latest temper tantrum leads to the death of the schools mascot.

The only way Roy can get the ban to be lifted is to demonstrate that he is truly a changed person, so he decides to return to coach at the middle school he played for long ago.

The team features your usual group of lovable losers, who naturally become a championship team once Roy arrives.

At one time I thought Lawrence had potential to be a break-out star, but it is apparent that the comedian has fallen on hard times with his latest effort. Lawrence, normally known for his vulgar tirades, is so constricted by the films PG rating that it looks as if he isnt even trying to establish a character.

Rebound was directed by Steve Carr who previously gave us Daddy Day Care and Dr. Doolittle 2. (Carr has obviously cornered the market on bad family films.) His direction is so standard that you could literally stop the film at any point and correctly choreograph the next scene.

Its that kind of lazy filmmaking that left me feeling plenty of disdain for Rebound. I really tried to find some reason not to give the film an F, but alas I took the easy road just like everyone involved with this putrid comedy.

If you really want to see a kids sports film, just wait until July 22 when The Bad News Bears remake hits theaters. Even though I havent seen that film, I think I can safely say there is no way it can be as bad as Rebound.

Discount dud of the week

This weeks discount dud is XXX: State of the Union (D-) an unintentionally hysterical action flick starring Ice Cube.

This sequel (and I use that term loosely) picks up with NSA agent Augustus Gibbons (Samuel L. Jackson) recruiting a new agent (Ice Cube) after his previous agent is killed during an attack.

Soon the new XXX is sent out to track a whacked out Secretary of Defense (Willem Dafoe) intent on overthrowing the president to further his political agenda.

State of the Union does get credit for moving at a brisk pace. Director Lee Tamahori never lets up, staging one action scene after another a wise decision since the movie is completely absurd when you stop to think about it.

Ice Cube does have the onscreen charisma to pull off being an action star, but he is given a film that has no chance from the beginning. It just feels like a film that should have gone straight to video.

Give Vin Diesel, the star of the original XXX, credit for bailing out and opting to do The Pacifier instead. Sadly enough, he made the right choice.

XXX: State of the Union is now playing at the Plaza 6, where all movies are $1.50.

Sportswriter/movie reviewer Micheal Compton is eagerly awaiting his vacation, when he can use all that free time to see movies. If you want to send him an e-mail and give him some suggestions, or find out when he plans to attend a film so you can avoid him, drop him a line at mcompton@bgdailynews.com.

Rebound

Starring: Martin Lawrence, Horatio Sanz

Director: Steve Carr

Rating: PG for mild language and thematic elements

Playing at: Greenwood Mall 10, Highland Cinemas (Glasgow)

Grade: F  Daily News ·813 College St. ·PO Box 90012 ·Bowling Green, KY ·42102 ·270-781-1700