Touchstone/Suzanne Hanover

WHOOP! TAKES the choir through a soulful passage in Sister Act.

Get thee to a nunnery

Sister Act succeeds thanks to creative cast

Sister Act * * ¥% (Touchstone) Rated Mature (at the Esplanade,
Vancouver Centre, Richmond, Station Square, Eagle Ridge and

Guildford cinemas)

HOOP! GOLDBERG'S latest movie has almost no

surprises, a crew of characters that are as familiar

as last week’s TV Guide and a simple-mindedness
guaranteed to offend absolutely no one (well, OK, maybe

that one woman in Boston).

In fact, you can feel the buttons
being pushed as you watch. But
you don’t care. it works.

The first pleasant surprise is the
hidden talent of Whoopi Goldberg
who sports a pretty fair set of pipes
(she did her own singing), as part
of a classic girl group.

Unfortunately for Deloris Van
Cartier (W.G.), semi-talented

. lounge acts are hardly a rarity in
Reno.

Still, as long as she stays the
main squeeze of club owner,
Vince LaRocca (Harvey Keitel), she
has a lifetime job. Why, he even
plans on leaving his wife for her —
someday.

But let's cut to the chase.
Deloris witnesses Vince rub out an
informer, and high-heels it to the

_police.

Sgt. Eddie Souther (Bill Nunn,
swear to you-know-who) hides the
terrified singer — spandex,
bangles and all — in St.
Katherine’s, 2 nunnery run by the
stern Mother Superior (Maggie
Smith). From Reno to rosaries,
from casinos to convents, from ...

Tim Bell
FILE REVIEW

well, you get the picture.

While certainly not the answer
to Mother Superior’s prayers,
newly named Mary Clarence
(Clarence? Like William
Clarence the Third from Mod
Squad?’’) brings comfort to the
other sisters, especially the trinity
of shy Mary Robert (Wendy Mak-
kena), eternally sunny Mary
Patrick (Kathy Najimy) and elderly
Mary Lazarus, a four-pope nun
(Mary Wickes).

She also brings harmony to the
dreadful choir. A dash of showbiz
pizzazz and, voila, the attendance

at Mass blooms.

Apparently, the production was
a bear with what they affectionate-
ly refer to as ‘‘creative dif-
ferences.’ You’d never know from
the easy-going, amiable result.

Whoopi shines, the supporting
cast is great, and there are terrific
arrangements for familiar songs
like | Will Follow Him and My
God (My Guy). (Oh yes, stay for
the funny end credits.)

Sister Actis a class act for some-
thing so fight and fluffy.

The Trouble with Angels
& *& & (RCA/Columbia Home
Video) Unrated

it's hijinks-with-nuns time again.

This movie revolves around a
series of pranks as teenager Hayley
Mills and accomplice June Har-
ding hatch ‘‘scathingly brilliant
ideas” at a convent school run by
a stern (is there any other kind?)
Mother Superior (Rosalind
Russell).

In a bit of synchronicity to Sister
Act, four-pope nun Mary Wilkes
appears (I guess only a two-pope
nun at this point), while Gypsy
Rose Lee adds a touch of Vegas.

Under Ida Lupino’s steady di-
rection, this undemanding 1966
comedy balances gentle humor
with respect for the church.

It’s a Disney-like film, suitable
for every member of the family.

SHOWTIME HOTLINES
Famous Players . . 681-4255
Cineplex Odeon . 687-1515

Wednesday, June 10, 1992 - North Shore News - 33

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