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JANE AUSTEN'S MAFIA!, as it's called in the film but not in the dumbed-down ads, is a slight delight. Tons of ticklers a la AIR- PLANE!, HOT SHOTS!, et al, about half of which hit their targets. (CASINO and THE GODFATHER get roughed-up the worst, but swings are taken at everything from CHILD'S PLAY to COCKTAIL.) There's pre- cious little momentum to the whole thing, a problem compounded by (a.) repeating gags and (b.) characters who react to said gags. (Memo to the filmmakers: if nothing else, cut away quicker.) At least the belly laughs are there, on occasion. My fave: a treat- ment of THE ENGLISH PATIENT crossed with a particularly pukey poke at STAND BY ME. And at a funeral, no less! Heave ho... With Jay Mohr, Christina Applegate, Billy Burke, Olympia Dukakis, Pamela Gidley, and the late Lloyd Bridges, to whom the film is dedicated. Directed and co-written by former Zucker Brothers collaborator Jim Abrahams. Mixed Baby Greens Foreman: Wolfgang Puck. (Rated "PG- 13"/89 min.) Grade: C+ Copyright 1998 Michael J. Legeros Movie Hell is a trademark of Michael J. Legeros
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MOVIE HELL: Elastic Waistband