The End of the Movie Reviews.

the boy sure does clean up nice

Mrs. Winterbourne (1996) is a sweet but odd movie, about which I have mixed feelings. I dislike it because Brendan plays a set of twins and one of them dies, and also because Ricki Lake (who really bugs me, although I probably should not admit that, since I guess she and Bren are old buddies) is the star of the show. I do like it, however, because Brendan performs a tango that makes me squeal with delight, and although the movie was critically panned, Bren was praised by several critics as the only reason to watch it. Also, the straight man he plays in Mrs. W is a good detour from the big goofy lunk he frequently portrays.

please, baby, don't cry

I just watched The Twilight of the Golds (1997), which was a Showtime Original movie based on the play of the same name, about a week ago. Should you stumble across the opportunity to watch this movie, take it! Jennifer Beals (that girl from Flashdance) discovers through genetic testing that the child she carries is 90% likely to be homosexual, like her brother David (Brendan). She then imposes upon herself a decision between keeping or aborting the baby. Heart-wrenching because of the way the Gold family parents (Garry Marshall and Faye Dunawaye) treat David and the unborn fetus, The Twilight of the Golds is also depressing because it makes you wonder if your own family would react to homosexuality in the same way, despite all the advances in tolerance that have taken place in recent years. Watch it anyway, because sometimes you just want to see a good tear-jerking movie, it has a happy ending, and it makes great use of that old David Bowie-Freddie Mercury chestnut, "Under Pressure".

Oh goodie!

George of the Jungle (1997) has become one of my favorite movies (hey, shaddap!), and for so many reasons. Brendan infuses innocence, loyalty, charm, and general sweet-naturedness into a character that originally was essentially a boulder with a pompadour (what's interesting to me, and probably only me, is that Steve Nebraska has hair more like Cartoon George than Real Life George does). There's extensive PG nudity (all Brendan!), dancing, cute animals, and Brendan's blue blue blue eyes.

I can find only two faults with George of the Jungle: 1) There are too many hit-in-the-nuts gags, but I forgive! and 2) The best scene in the movie (George with his shirt flapping in the breeze, chasing a white horse) is marred by an injection of cruel reality, a cameo appearance by Our Favorite Fiance. How can I fantasize when I know that the blonde in the black dress, watching on the sidelines, went home with him?

Aside from those minor gripes, the movie is perfect.

oh look, George is all wet. Here, sweetie, you can use me as a towel.

Read the best review of George of the Jungle I've ever found.
NEW!! Look at this George of the Jungle capsule review (featuring the European video cover) from a British teen magazine!

this is an alternate poster that was never used for official promotional purposes. I found a copy of the official Still Breathing poster, but Brendan has a dopey grin in the picture. I like this one better.

Allow me to complain for a moment, if you will, about my misadventures involving the fine film Still Breathing. Throughout 1997, SB made the film festival circuit, and unbeknownst to me at the time, it appeared at the Nantucket Film Festival in summer'97. I missed it! I didn't even know it was there until it was gone. Then, I was all set to see it at the Boston Film Festival, but it was nowhere to be found (not that it was SUPPOSED to show there, I just assumed that it would be there. Oh well. We all know, however, what happens when you ASSUME anything . . . ). In January 1998, plans were set for the Still Breathing premiere in San Antonio TX on April 2nd or 3rd. Completely psyched, I started saving up my menial pay and began to arrange travel plans, only to discover to my displeasure that the occasion had been moved to the first weekend in May. Drat! I could no longer go; obligations involving my Confirmation prevented me from attending. The premiere date continued to bounce around the month of May, each time landing on a day more inconvenient than the last (yes, I realize that I wasn't likely to attend anyway, since I couldn't find a direct flight

to San Antonio, let alone an adult chaperone, but quiet, you! this is MY rant!), until it landed on May 2 (or 8, I can't really remember now). I ended up staying here in MA, but a pair of Brendan fans who DID get to attend set up a hilarious site documenting their pilgrimage. To experience the Still Breathing premiere party, go here. Anyway, soon afterward, Still Breathing was set to appear in theaters across the nation in a gradual, platformed release. When the movie made less money in its first week of release than its distributor, October Films, had planned, SB was yanked from theaters before it even got to them. Long story short, a nation full of lovers of Brendan (as well as the director/creator of Still Breathing) received a great big collective rear admiral. Fast forward to this past October, when I was lucky enough to get a video of this movie, about whose ethereal beauty I will now expound. Visually stunning, Still Breathing is set in exotic locales San Antonio and Los Angeles. It stars, of course, ever-resplendant Brendan, as well as the china-doll-esque Joanna Going, as two polar-opposite individuals destined to become lovers. Brendan's character, Fletcher, spots Joanna's character, Roz, in a dream, and embarks on a odyssey to find his mystery lady and bring her home to Texas. He finds her in Los Angeles, never realizing that Roz is a con artist under the impression that HE is a millionaire. Hijinx and romance ensue. The premise is a bit difficult to swallow, but if you go along with the story, you'll find yourself swept away with the quirky characters, cute humor, and aforementioned gorgeous settings. Rent it exclusively at Blockbuster Video, where it was a highly popular selection, and you can also buy Still Breathing at videoflicks.com.

 

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