Video Review: Lake Placid

Writer: David E. Kelley

Cast: Bill Pullman, Bridget Fonda, Oliver Platt, Brendan Gleeson, Betty White

Somewhere in the hinterlands of Stephen King country, a biologist for the Maine Department of Fish and Game dives into Black Lake to tag beaver. Moments later, his companion, Sheriff Hank Keough, hauls him back into their boat -- only now he's only half the man he used to be.

Seems like the lake is home to a 150-year-old, 30-foot-long Asian crocodile. How did it get there? Don't know. How long has it been there? At least six years. How come nobody noticed it all that time? It doesn't matter--this is a comedy, so reality doesn't apply. Why is a movie called Lake Placid if the body of water in question is called Black Lake? Excuse me, can we get on with the review, please?

Billed as "comedy/horror," this bit of fluff written by David Kelley is unquestionably funny. As long as that's all you expect from it, you won't be disappointed by its singular lack of plot. Think "Ally McBeal Goes To Camp. "

Director Steve Miner wisely compensates for this omission by keeping the action and the patter moving along at breakneck speed. The vignette style keeps the really pointless scenes from dragging on too long. This includes most of those centered on the two stars: Bill Pullman as game warden Jack Wells and Bridget Fonda as alleged paleontologist Kelly Scott.

The fact is, there are really only four reasons to watch this movie: Oliver Platt as obsessive mythology professor Hector Cyr, Brendan Gleeson as Sheriff Hank, Betty White as a nightmare grandma Delores Bickerman and F/X designer Stan Winston's crocodile. The three master character actors move in and take over right from the beginning. By the time they get really wound up, Pullman and Fonda might just as well pack up and go home. Trust me, you'd never notice they were gone. As for the reptile, Winston did his homework. You'll have no trouble believing this critter is for real. What's more, Kelley made the smart move of not attributing human emotions to it. This is just one big appetite with teeth not some ecological mutation out for revenge on the human race.

Although there are a few heart-in-throat moments in this movie, there's no question that you're meant to have fun with it. And, to give Kelley credit, there is some character development amongst the sarcasm and one-liners. Unfortunately, there's also a lot of illogical plot elements and Fonda's character was done better in Private Benjamin . No

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