M.
The Battalion
>0:
Tuesday
November 14, 1995
teLtre
3
.we;
inglJ
i nd |
ay oil
i lini
rdr
ne, 1;.
1 be.
oal.
16 It:
dtsll
•ive. 1
jim Carrey serves up another
tin!
When Nature
Calls brings in top
weekend dollars
sail
LOS ANGELES (AP)
Jim Carrey’s Ace Ventura:
When Nature Calls enjoyed
’ the best non-summer open-
| os ' ing in Hollywood history, col
lecting $37.8 million in its
debut weekend.
The opening was the sixth
largest ever, and the year’s
second strongest premiere.
The all-time record was set in
June by Batman Forever,
which made $52.8 million in
its first weekend.
Carrey is now one of Holly-
Iwood’s most popular actors.
His recent blockbusters include
| The Mask, Dumb and Dumber
and Batman Forever, in which
he played the Riddler.
In second place was Get
Shorty, which continues to
play strongly. Positive word-
of-mouth benefited Copycat’
and Home for the Holidays.
Powder is now a minor hit.
Fair Game slipped badly in
its second week, and Vampire
in Brooklyn faded in its third
weekend. In limited release,
Carrington was well-received.
Carrey monkeys around
in newest Ventura film
By Michael Landauer
The Battalion
About three quarters through watching Ace Ventura:
When Nature Calls, a boy whispered to his dad, “This guy’s
weird.”
In what was probably the overstatement of the century,
this child’s astute observation is not an uncommon re
sponse to an amateur’s first impression of Jim Carrey’s
comic style.
For those with experience watching Carrey, When Na
ture Calls offers new proof to the fact that the man is com
pletely insane — and insane people are funny.
Ace has changed a little since the first movie. Due to an
unfortunate incident involving a raccoon, Ace has devoted
his life to finding spiritual attainment while living among
Gregorian monks.
Although he thinks he is a spiritual being, Ace’s humor
never changes. Carrey told Entertainment Tonight that his
character continues to do the things that piss people off.
And he starts with Fulton Greenwall (Ian McNeice), an
emissary sent to lure Ace back into pet detection with a
$20,000 reward. After rolling a truck into its parking
space, Ace lets out a trademark “Ullllike a glove,” and re
enters his world of sporadic pelvis thrusts and high-
pitched one-liners.
Most of Ace’s old one-liners find their way into When
Nature Calls, but viewers will want to see this film more
than once if they have any intention of hearing all of Ace’s
under-the-breath, smart-ass comments.
Carrey’s knack for comedy is shown in other ways, too.
When Nature Calls sets up more situational comedy than
|im Carrey and his animal friends star in Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls.
owe mm
Ace Ventura: When Mature
Starring Jim Carrey and Ian McNeil
Directed by Steve Oedekerk
Rated PG-13
Playing at
kJV
Pet Detective had to offer. Writers realize that if you trap a
naked Carrey inside a Rhinoceros spying machine, the au
dience is only a few facial expressions away from being
sent rolling in the aisles.
Some people will be happy with another dose of the
same comedy, but others will be disappointed at the lack of
new material. But although this film adds nothing new to
the recipe for the first film’s success, it is every bit as good.
However, one area that could have used a facelift was
the plot. The writers apparently took the same characters
from the first movie, altered them slightly, dropped them
in the jungle and then kept the same basic plot. But, of
course, the story is not what viewers are coming out to see.
Each situation is created around Carrey’s comic ability.
Just when the audience thinks a joke has run its course,
Carrey takes it to another level — as in one scene that in
cludes an appearance by “The Monopoly Guy.” But when
Carrey pushes scenes to another level, his dragged out rou
tine only makes the audience laugh louder and louder.
As outrageous the moments get, Carrey never crosses the
line created by Jerry Lewis into the stupid side of comedy.
In his fourth major feature film, Carrey has shown that
TV slapstick can not only make the transition to the big
screen, but also can survive there.
Carrey shows that he is willing to draw on old jokes while
creating new comedy. The filmmakers utilize every ounce of
comedy Carrey has to offer, and it fits — like a glove.
Value meals —
idel
“We
5‘* Southerland provides several opportunities for discussions
Etheridge's Secret lacks quality lyrics
By Amy Uptmor
The Battalion
iave
but m ^ou may have seen ads for it
r ery- in The Battalion. Maybe
dbe | your mother signed you up
to do it when you were a fresh
man, or your roommate did it
and could not stop talking about
what you missed out on for days.
|T Somehow you have probably
heard of the vice president of Stu-
■. dent Affairs’student luncheons.
” n( | For more than 20 years, the
s vice president of Student Affairs
at Texas A&M has opened his
door and his ears to freshmen
t l and student leaders, welcoming
its* hem to informal lunches and
, gatherings where they have an
Opportunity to voice their con-
L J|cems about A&M.
The luncheons were started
by Dr. John Koldus in his sec
ond year as vice president of
tudent Affairs. Dr. Malon
outherland, the current vice
^president, has carried on and
xpanded the tradition.
Freshman luncheons are
|aeld every other week through-
ut the school year. Souther-
and said about 800 names
have been collected so far in
very manner possible.
“Everyone who signed up
should at least get an invite,” he
said. “It usually takes about 60
names to get 20 people.”
Southerland said he is pleased
with what he hears at the fresh
man luncheons.
“The freshmen are just sensa
tional,” he said. “They’re just so
pleased to be here.
Toby Boenig, student body
president and a senior agricul
tural development major,
praised the luncheons.
“The luncheons are excellent,
especially for freshmen,” he said.
“A lot of times they don’t know
what’s going on. It’s a great way
for them to learn about the issues
that affect A&M.”
Another social sponsored by
Southerland is the faculty / staff /
student luncheon, which allows
the same open forum, but gives
students, faculty and staff the op
portunity to
talk together.
Southerland
said he had
considered dis
continuing this
program but
he had a
change of
heart after he
attended his
first one.
“I knew it
was the right
thing to do,” he
said. “It’s real useful. The feedback
from the faculty and staff is strong.”
Southerland also has different
groups of student leaders over to
his house every Tuesday for din
ner. He said these dinners are the
perfect opportunity for leaders to
tell him what is going on.
Boenig said student leader din
ners are one of the best opportu
nities he has to talk to other stu
dent leaders in one place.
“It’s one of the best resources of
Southerland
time I have,” he said. “It’s great to
have Dr. Southerland there, and
a lot of times, we just need to get
the student leaders there to dis
cuss some issues, so it’s an excel
lent resource.”
Other programs include Chat
and Chew, an open social held
two or three times a semester.
Students do not need to sign up to
attend Chat and Chew. Although
the turnout is not as high at these
socials, Southerland said the feed
back is still positive.
“We usually see about 50 to
100 people, but with many of
them, it’s clear that they came to
that spot to find you, so that’s a
good reason to do it,” he said.
Southerland also holds open fo
rums once or twice a semester.
Although the forums generate a
small turnout, Southerland said
they are still extremely useful.
Southerland said he welcomes
groups to his house for meetings,
which is something Koldus did
not do because he had a family.
“But since it’s just me at the
residence now, I don’t mind hav
ing student groups over,” he said.
Southerland said all the dif
ferent socials he holds are “lis
tening environments” and the
key is the students.
“I have blocks of time commit
ted to these socials every week,
and that puts pressure on the cal
endar for other things,” he said.
“But if you believe this role (vice
president of Student Affairs) is a
lifestyle and never say no, then
the time fills up. You just have to
be able to say yes.”
Album
Melissa Etheridge
Your Little Secret
Island Records
★★★ (out of five)
By Amy Uptmor
The Battalion
Melissa Etheridge’s 1993 album, Yes I Am,
was one of the most emotionally candid, thought
ful albums by a woman to sell five million copies
in musical history. It was a wildly successful
break into a stardom for one of the most sincere
stars of the moment, resulting in a sold-out sta
dium tour last summer.
Now, enter Your Little Secret, Etheridge’s fifth al
bum and the much anticipated follow-up to Yes I
Am. Needless to say, following a five-time platinum
album could put a bit of pressure on an artist.
Your Little Secret is a nice, safe follow-up album.
Etheridge does not try any new tricks on this album.
She’s still hopelessly and obsessively in love and
writing about it in almost every song. Songs that are
not about love cover such common Etheridge topics
as open-mindedness and, well, more love.
Her voice is as gut-wrenchingly powerful as ever.
It’s almost as if you can hear her heart bleeding on
songs like “nowhere to go” and “shriner’s park.”
But something very important is missing. The
emotion is there. The guitar is powerful as ever.
But Etheridge has slid a bit on the songwriting.
Such a dry spell is apparent in the album’s ti
tle track, “your little secret” (“baby / one and
one and one make three”).
Masterpieces like “Come to my window”
are nowhere to be found on Your Little Se
cret. There are some good moments —
“nowhere to go” is a beautiful ballad about a
secret young love affair. It probably carries
the strongest lyrics, but that’s not a hard title
to earn on this album.
Another new Etheridge love song which just
tugs at the heart strings is “all the way to heav
en”, with passionate lyrics like “i want to roll down
the windows / and teach you to fly / i want to give
you a thrill / the kind you can’t buy.”
Then there’s “i could have been you,” a song that
carries a powerful message of t<^#b a rice, but falls flat
in its delivery. It’s draggingly slow guitar line makes
this one almost painful to listen to.
Another flop on this album is “an unusual kiss.”
But any song will fail that begins with the cheesy
line “i know what you’re thinking baby.”
Your Little Secret is a good album. It does not
compete with Etheridge’s past work, but it is still
worth listening to.
Maybe Etheridge’s “little secret” on this album is
that she’s a better songwriter than she’s letting on.
TRANSMISSION 4 LESS
YOUR DISCOUNT TRANSMISSION OUTLET
The highest quality work, for the lowest possible price!
12,000 Mile
Warranty Available
We’ll Beat All
Competitors Prices
On Comparable Work
FREE LOCAL & DISCOUNT
OUT OF TOWN TOWING
WITH JOB
•FINANCING AVAILABLE
QUALITY WORK AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
HOUSE OF TIRES #TRAMQ A I FQQ# BRAKES FOR LESS
1401 W. TEXAS AVE. * T 1 L t W W 823-1751 • 779-2458
823-1751 • 779-2458
WIN A FRE1
Parking Garage Space
FOR SPRING ‘96
University Center Garage
$1 Raffle Tickets Sold in
MSC NOV 14-17
*On OR Off Campus Aggies Can Win!*
Sponsored by the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Class of 1998