<6 - Wednesday, December 19, 1990 - North Shore News Mermaids as unstable Mermaids ** (Orion) Rated Mature (at the Park & Tilford, West Van, Granville, Station Sq., Coquitlam and Scott 72 cinemas) IFE ACCORDING to Rachel Flax (Cher): ‘‘Death is dwelling on the past or staying in one place too long.”’ Translated that means . every time her love affairs bottom out, Mrs. Flax and her two daugh- ters must move. And in 1963 that was considered anti-American. After ail, Jackie Kennedy was still wearing pillbox hats and Deomini- que was number one on the charts. Life was, shall we say, con- servative. But for 15-year-old Charlotte Flax (Winona Ryder) life is borderline anarchy. Dad left the day she was born and her little sister Kate (Christina Ricci) was the result of a one-nighter with an Olympic swimmer, As a counter-measure to this chronic instability. Charlotte has film review developed intense Catholic urges, despite her mother’s polite obser- vation that they are Jewiso. But then who listens to a mother whose idea of dinner is marsh -mallow kebabs? Her prayers to remain virtuous are at war with her hormones, however. When the tamily moves next door to a convent with ashy, handsome caretaker LO years her senior, Charlotte redoubles her Hail Marys. She should have prayed for a more consistent movie. One minute it’s a comedy about teen angst, the next.a sugary Jump of melodrama. Neither of them seem in the feast reai, How many com. edies resort to Kennedy's assassination as a device to get its lovers together? Smaller details like Charlotte’s cherished photo of her father, his face torn off, are more effective. Where the movie doesn’t falter is in the acting. Cher vibrantly alternates between snappy one- liners and exasperating immiaturi- ty. Winona Ryder carries the movie as a believably confused teen, rolling her eyes over her Sushi by the Sea Br goatee SES at 6342 Bay St. (Horseshoe Bay) W. Van. Hours: Tues-Sun. 11:30am-10pm FOUR GOOL a NT y Schedule: Open Dec. 24 & 26 & Dec. 31, Closed Dec. 25, Jan. Ist 921-6300 mother’s behavior while stll fol- lowing her every misstep. Bob Hoskins 15 hugely likable as Lou Landsky, the shoe salesman who can't quite get his slippers under Mrs. Flax’s bed permanent- y- Also on the plus side is the period music that peppers the soundtrack. Golden oldies such as Sugar Shack, Mamno ftaliano and it's in His Kiss can't fail to bring a smile. Night of the Hunter °**% (MGM/UA Home Video/ Criterion Laser Disc) Unrated Here's Robert Mitchum’s finest hour (and a half) as a psychotic “preacher” with the words love and hate tattooed on his knuckles (the better to illustrate good and evil, my friends). PA as its characters The classic thriller is a dark fairy tale with two homeless children pursued by 4 Bluebeard-like killer who wants to know where their late dad hid some bank robbery loot. Charles Laughton’s direction resulted in several haunting im- ages that are unforgettable. NORTH SHORE VIEWS West Van Odeon: Henry & June, Mermaids, Havana Park Royal: Rocky V, Rescuers Down Under, Good Fellas, Ghost Park & Tilford: Dances with Wolves, Misery, Nutcracker Prince, Home Alone, Mertnaids, Havana, Edward Scissorhands Showtime Hotlines: Famous Players 681-4255, Cineplex Odeon 687-1515 “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year" Best W es from all of us! New Year's EVE at Pasparos join us for a very special evening! TICKETS AVAILABLE Fun! Surprises! and Dancing well into the night! 132 West 3rd St., N. Van. 980-0331