King Ralph falls on its face THE HERALD Wednesday It mi Pige 5 By DIAHANN NADEAU Herald Special King Ralph asks the question what if white trash America sud denly ruled England The answer who cares Ralph is a shabby tired retread of an old theme a noble English family dies off and the only heir is some common ignorant illeducated American gasp I Well this time its Englands Royal Family and John Good man is the boorish heir apparent Youve seen it all on the Flint- stones and at least they only took to tell the tale The movie falls on its face within seconds of rolling the credits The Royal Family the has gathered at the back of Buckingham Palace for a family portrait Everyone Is there The rain is barely over and the grass is wet Somehow the whole family is electrocuted on the lawn Not only is this in credibly implausible its not even funny This was a scene full of possibilities remember Kind Hearts and Coronets but the opportunity is wasted It sets the tone for the whole movie Goodman is a good boy who happens to be a Las Vegas lounge His act is so tired hes be ing replaced by a chimp Enter the royal secretary and hes off to England to be King Only problem is he barely knows where the country is let alone understands whats hap pening in it He is aided in his quest for royal bearing by Sir Peter OToole who finds educating the big ape a near im possible task He is diverted from his duty by a pretty wouldbe stripper Miranda Greene and no court is complete without a treasonous plotter and Lord Graves John Hurt is the snake in the grass here The plot is so predictable it hurts and few scenes stand out Goodman has the odd moment but he is overwhelmed by an outstandingly lacklustre screenplay The name of the game in this movie is money it seeks to capitalize on Goodmans happy slob image and the tiein with the Burger King ads a scene is set there a flagrant grab for the advertising dollars is another attempt to rake in the bucks Moviemaking doesnt come any more cynical than this Some wonderful actors are wasted here especially John Hurt and Peter OToole One ex pects they were only in it for the money Hopefully they made a lot because this is not going to look good on the old resume However my 10yearold companion en- Joyed the film well enough and It is definitely suitable for family viewing Problems of disabled addressed in series What impact will new reproductive technologies and genetic engineering have on disabled people What is being done to combat the alarmingly high rate of illiteracy among the disabled Why do members of Deaf Culture want to be recogniz ed as a separate cultural group These and other issues affecting disabled Canadians will be ex plored in a new series of halfhour programs Challenge Journal on TVOntario Mon day March 18 at pm Series of Challenge Journal was broadcast on CTV affiliates in 1989 Producer Carolann Reynolds says Our series is about real people striving to live with digni ty in a society that will more often give them a handout rather than a hand up Challenge Journal host Ed who became disabled several years ago as the result of an auto accident combines broadcast experience and per sonal insight in this probing series Each week he will invite guest experts to discuss issues of disability that influence our com munity Profiles of disabled in dividuals throughout Alberta Saskatchewan and Ontario por tray lives in contexts of arts athletics and leisure literacy poverty and abuse Actress Kyra Levy of High farmer and doublearm amputee Murray Bedel gold- medal triatblete Joanne and Ontario Gary Malkowski the first deaf can didate In Canada to be elected to a legislature are a few of the peo ple to be featured on Challenge Journal GEORGETOWN LITTLE THEATRE presents BY HELENE HANFF ADAPTED FOR THE STAGE BV JAMES ROOSEEVANS DIRECTOR Neville Worsnop PRODUCER Dorothy Hunt FEBRUARY 23 27 28 MARCH 1991 JOHN ELLIOTT THEATRE CHllKCH STREET GEORGETOWN 800 I PM TICKETS AVAILABLE AT I ROYAL LEPAGE REAL ESTATE GMfeli Stmt Georgetown BOX OFFICE AN ACTCO FESTIVAL ENTRY ADJUDICATION MARCH In 8 00 Rednoed Rates Senior Citizens Students Groups of SO fin- Selected Shorn J OP GEORGETOWN CINEMAS GUELPH STREET 1999 2nd SMASH WEEK BiifflJOTiijiJSi team Evenings at 5 pm fuenatmf Matinees Saturday Sunday at pm JOHN GOODMAN NOW PLAYING PETER OTOOLE has ilk- roal Limit one lo the throne Evenings at 700 915 pm Matinees Saturday Sunday at 200 pm NOW PLAYING is Ml l I LA STORY Evenings at pm Matinees Saturday Sunday at pm COMING THIS FRIDAY AWAKENINGS ADMISSION Genernl Children it Seniors Password Tburs S3 S PASSWORD IM