Jury Duty

 ((Comedy -- Color))

By BRIAN LOWRY

Read other reviews about this film

Powered By

A TriStar Pictures release of a TriStar and Triumph Films presentation of a Yoram Ben-Ami/Peter M. Lenkov production in association with Weasel Prods. Produced by Ben-Ami, Lenkov. Line producer, Udi Nedivi. Co-producers, Stephen L. Bernstein, Richard M. Heller. Directed by John Fortenberry. Screenplay, Neil Tolkin, Barbara Williams, Samantha Adams; story by Williams, Adams.
 
Tommy ... Pauly Shore
Monica ... Tia Carrere
Frank ... Stanley Tucci
Harry ... Brian Doyle-Murray
Judge Powell ... Abe Vigoda
Jed ... Charles Napier
Skeets ... Richard Edson
Principal Beasley ... Richard Riehle
Sarah ... Alex Datcher
Nathan ... Richard T. Jones
Mom ... Shelley Winters
 

Jury Duty" not only has the distinction of being one of the worst major studio releases in recent memory, it's also one of the most morally dubious, crassly seeking to cash in on the O.J. Simpson trial. Pic does bring the Simpson case to mind in at least two ways: It's seemingly interminable, and sequestration may be needed to keep people in their seats. Word of mouth should be deadly after whatever early returns pic can muster, even among those fluent in "dudespeak."

While the idea of dropping Pauly Shore into a courtroom setting may have possessed some promise, turning the movie into a half-parody of the Simpson proceedings is utterly wrong-headed, since nothing could equal the amount of media skewering and jokes that attend the trial on a daily basis.

Beyond that, "Jury Duty" comes off as a slapdash effort of almost absurd excess, with no effort whatsoever made to rein in Shore, a non-actor who comes dangerously close here to approaching the ranks of non-comics.

You know you're in trouble when the movie's best and most inspired moment involves bombastic ESPN sports announcer Dick Vitale in a cameo as a Court TV-like commentator. For the most part, though, even that scene borders on the surreal, and the balance of the film is virtually laugh-free.

Shore plays Tommy, a sleep-till-noon layabout left suddenly in need of shelter when his mother (Shelley Winters) motors off to Vegas in their trailer. Tommy decides the best solution would be to get impaneled on a long, sequestered trial that will allow him to shack up in a hotel rent-free until Mom returns.

The character winds up on a high-profile case involving a serial killer, whom the entire jury assumes to be guilty. In a "Twelve Angry Men" riff, Tommy conspires to prolong the deliberations to maintain his posh lifestyle -- much to the chagrin of his fellow jurors, including the obligatory babe to be won over (Tia Carrere), dressed down here in mousy librarian garb.

Unfortunately, Shore is so utterly annoying it's difficult to root for him to achieve anything beyond a quick exit. Director John Fortenberry, making his feature debut after helming numerous HBO specials, exhibits just how creatively bankrupt the filmmakers are by resorting to several musical montages, apparently just to pad the duration to feature length.

Various familiar faces appear, from Abe Vigoda as the judge and Brian Doyle-Murray as a fellow juror to an uncredited cameo by Andrew (Dice) Clay. The only supporting role of note, however, involves Tommy's pint-size dog, who clearly deserves higher billing.

Tech credits are as flaccid as the script, while Shore's obnoxious credit-closing rap -- including lines like rhyming "Judge Ito" and "burrito"-- sums up the general level of the comedy.

Taken together, it's a wonder this mistrial was allowed to go forward. And as with jury duty, paying filmgoers $ 5 a day would seem like scant compensation for their time.

Camera (Foto-Kem color, Technicolor prints), Avi Karpick; editor, Stephen Semel; music, David Kitay; production design, Deborah Raymond, Dorian Vernaccio; set decoration, Nancy S. Fallace; costume design, Terry Dresbach; associate producers, Dessie Markovsky, Emile Razpopov; assistant director, Jerram A. Swartz; unit production manager, David Witz; casting, Ferne Cassell. Reviewed at GCC Galaxy Theater, Hollywood, April 5 , 1995. MPAA Rating: PG-13. Running time: 86 min.