By BETH JONES
THE ROANOKE TIMES

Archives Reprint

   In 1999, screenwriter Neil Cuthbert brought us "Mystery Men," an oddball comedy about a group of misfit superheroes. That movie had many moments of comic genius, but you got the feeling that the talented cast, including William H. Macy, Janeane Garofalo and Ben Stiller, were responsible for ad-libbing those funny bits. Overall, Cuthbert's unwieldy script took too long to tell the story.

    With "The Adventures of Pluto Nash," Cuthbert's writing is slightly more focused, but he doesn't offer much of a story. Adding to the misery is a cast that isn't nearly as talented as the ensemble from "Mystery Men."

    Eddie Murphy stars as Pluto Nash, the owner of a wildly successful nightclub on the moon. That's right. The year is 2087 and the moon has been colonized.

    His adventure begins when he refuses to sell his club to a casino owner who doesn't take no for an answer. Soon, Nash is engaging in shoot'em-ups and trying to outrun the bad guys in some kind of hovering car thingy. Nash's robot Bruno (Randy Quaid) tries to help out the best he can, but he's an outdated '63 model with limited capabilities.

    Rosario Dawson plays Dina Lake, a singer who's trying to earn enough money for a trip back to her home in Utah. She comes along for the ride with Nash and gradually falls for him. Murphy, 41, and Dawson, 23, share no chemistry, which may be why director Ron Underwood keeps their romantic interludes to a minimum.

    In Steven Spielberg's "Minority Report," we're shown what the world may be like in 2054. Spielberg's vision of holographic greeters at the Gap and newspapers that instantly deliver breaking news mesmerized audiences.

    Underwood ("City Slickers," "Tremors") is far less successful presenting his futuristic vision. He gives us oxygen bars, electric scooters and Hillary Clinton's face on $10,000 bills. You must admit, however, the French-maid robot who perpetually drops her feather duster so that bystanders can get a peek at her underwear is almost amusing. Overall, though, the drab moon setting looks too much like Earth and offers little to spark the imagination.

    Eddie Murphy is Eddie Murphy, and you either love his humor or you hate it. Dawson ("Josie and the Pussycats") is a fine actress, but she's given little to do here other than wring her hands while Murphy shoots some kind of laser thing.

    It's Quaid who steals the show as the out-of-date robot. His wacky facial mannerisms and gigantic, perpetual grin (we're told he's high on a happy chip) are downright hilarious.

    The frequently annoying Jay Mohr is also entertaining here as Tony Francis, a Sinatra-ish star who sings to a packed house at a moon casino. And could that be Alec Baldwin starring in a brief, uncredited role as a mob boss? Which is the worst career move for the most famous Baldwin brother: a cameo in "Pluto Nash" or Baldwin's recent decision to replace Whoopi Goldberg on TV's "Hollywood Squares?"

    The film's soundtrack is overproduced drivel. It is fun, however, to count all the moon songs. There's "Blue Moon," "Fly Me to the Moon," "Dancing in the Moonlight." I can't remember whether "Moon River" made the cut.

    The studios didn't offer advance screenings of the film to critics. There's a reason for that. Despite a few entertaining moments, "The Adventures of Pluto Nash" is a stinker.

    Beth Jones can be reached

   at 777-6493 or bethj@roanoke.com.

    The Adventures of Pluto Nash

    A Warner Bros. release showing at Carmike 10 at Tanglewood Mall and Valley View Grande 16. Rated PG-13 for violence, sexual humor and language. One hour, 23 minutes.

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