Minor but most enjoyable matinee fodder which is notable for giving tailor made opportunities to an eclectic cast of "names" who have all been unfortunatley ill used by recent vehicals. Tim Allen seems to relish toning down the roguish chortle (the trailer of "S. C. II" points to a huge potential comeback....and an even huger potential for further typecasting). This was his freshest performance in years....and Christian Slater's charming work prooves just how much warmth and wit do lie untapped underneath the lethargic mannerisms....and make appearances in unworthy megaduds like "Windtalkers" even more sad. Richard Dreyfuss has a much smaller role....(thank heavens) but even he seems a bit more vital and less hammy than he has been of late (except in the unjustly overlooked gem "Tripendorff's Tribe" in which he was hysterical...at least on Cinemax. The love it or hate it factor here is bound to be the playful and very deliberate swipes at Tarantino which seem to be this scripts main reason for existence. Even though I loved "Fiction" (and hated "Gump") I can still appreciate the cheekiness of stealing the diffuse plot structure, toning down the bloodletting and bad words, and injecting two very refreshing elements....a nice sense of humanity and an obviously genuine affection for the art of cinema...anyone who is open to either of those qualities should find much to enjoy in this nice little film.
