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Laramie Movie Scope:
Lake Placid

Yet another Jaws ripoff bites the big screen

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by Robert Roten, Film Critic
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July 19, 1999 --The genius of Steven Spielberg was once again apparent by its absence in another "Jaws" ripoff, "Lake Placid."

While it doesn't make the grade as a horror film, it is funny. For me "Lake Placid" was a guilty pleasure. I found myself laughing in spite of myself at the heavy-handed way the film spoofed horror movie clichés.

For instance, early in the film, we get the scene where the pretty lady scientist, Kelly Scott (Bridget Fonda of "Jackie Brown" fame), a stock character in this type of film, gets an assignment for field work she does not want. We see her saying that she absolutely will not go on this trip, so you know what's going to happen, right? There will be a jump cut to her going to the field assignment.

It seemed a little too obvious. Then later on, we get the scene where the sheriff, Hank Keogh (Brendan Gleeson of "Braveheart" and "The Butcher Boy") wades into the water with the monster and actually says, "I just have this feeling that everything's going to be perfectly safe," or something to that effect. This is a dead giveaway that the makers of this film are trying to be as clever as those who made "Scream," by spoofing horror film clichés. They try, but they are not even close.

Then we have the monster itself, which moves and behaves as unrealistically as the big snake in "Anaconda." Besides that, it is a cold-blooded, warm-weather creature in a very cold climate, living in a lake in Maine that freezes over solid in the winter. There is nothing at all realistic about this film, and probably that was intentional.

Nevertheless, there's some funny lines in the film and some good byplay between the actors, who are quite capable. Oliver Platt ("Simon Birch," "Bullworth") plays the certifiable seeker of strange animals Hector Cyr and Bill Pullman ("Zero Effect," "Lost Highway") plays game warden Jack Wells. The byplay between the main characters is choice as Cyr is insufferable and Gleeson does a wonderful slow burn. Betty White is quite believable as a very crazed widow who likes wild animals a lot more than she likes cows or people.

It appears as if all these fine actors are having a wonderful time making this film. On a project like this you can do whatever you want, because none of the characters are consistent. Except for Cyr, who is a nut case, none of the characters has any motivation for what they are doing. So they just grin and chew up the scenery. These actors are so good they almost make it a good movie, but not quite.

You have to admire a film which has the audacity to use a flying cow as bait and which tries to mix such insoluble elements as comedy and decapitation. This is one nutty film. Parts of it are undeniably funny and it benefits from good acting talent and some funny dialogue and physical comedy. The problem is it isn't believable enough to be really scary and it isn't a clever enough spoof to be really funny. It is just a very strange mixture of gruesome killings and comedy. It rates a C.

Click here for links to places to buy this movie in video and/or DVD format, the soundtrack, books, even used videos, games and lots of other stuff. I suggest you shop at least two of these places before buying anything. Prices seem to vary continuously. For more information on this film, click on this link to The Internet Movie Database. Type in the name of the movie in the search box and press enter. You will be able to find background information on the film, the actors, and links to much more information.

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Copyright © 1999 Robert Roten. All rights reserved.
Reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder.
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Robert Roten can be reached via e-mail at my last name at lariat dot org. [Mailer button: image of letter and envelope]