By Neal C. Carruth
Daily Arts Writer
It's hard to deny that tabloid talk shows are a fascinating and troubling part of American culture. A film that handles this phenomenon with regard for its complexity and richness is certainly desperately needed. Unfortunately, "Meet Wally Sparks" does not fill that void.
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Meet Wally Sparks At Briarwood and Showcase
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The credit sequence showcases a number of personalities, none of whom are strangers to the kind of aberrance that Sparks purveys. The whole gang - Sally, Geraldo, Jerry, Rolanda and even Morton Downey Jr. - pass judgment on the extremity of Sparks' approach and content.
The basic story starts when Sparks receives an ultimatum from the network president (Burt Reynolds) to clean up his show - or else. After an attack by his moral nemesis, the conservative governor of Georgia (David Ogden Stiers), Sparks fires back insults that place his career in jeopardy. The governor's mischievous son then proceeds to send Sparks an invitation to a gala at the governor's mansion.
Sparks shows up, and as expected, makes a mess of the party. While in attendance, he and his producer (Debi Mazar) manage to stumble onto a potential sex scandal involving the governor. Doing what anyone would, Sparks feigns a back injury to continue his broadcasts from the governor's mansion in the hopes that it will somehow improve his ratings.
The film, having already bored or insulted most by this point, continues along predictably. Its cartoonish sensibility revels in the kind of humor that is hard to digest, coming from the mind of a mature, competent adult.
The screenplay, co-authored by Dangerfield and Harry Basil (they also wrote "Ladybugs"), features a seemingly endless stream of penis references, as well as limply written characters. However, it must be conceded that the "comedic" scenes are vastly better than the laughable attempts at dramatic tension or sensitivity.
Lest one get the idea that I have no respect for Rodney Dangerfield, let it be known: Dangerfield is an entertaining comic. ("Back to School" is a minor classic.) His constant quipping in "Meet Wally Sparks" is quite amusing, but it does not add up to a satisfying characterization.
Concerning the film's other star, it's quite sad to see as fine an actor as David Ogden Stiers stuck in a turkey like this one. An actor has to eat, like everyone else, but one should also have standards. There is an awful moment in the film where Stiers, a man who has portrayed Lear, has his head vice-gripped between the thighs of a professional wrestler.
Most disturbing of all, "Meet Wally Sparks" features a cameo appearance and performance by Michael Bolton. Now if that isn't in bad taste, I don't know what is. Any film that even mentions Bolton in a favorable light automatically deserves a rating of one star.
"Meet Wally Sparks" is a film that insults the audience's intelligence even more than the shows on which it is based. "No respect" is right.
Rodney Dangerfield stars as Wally, a TV talk show host, in "Meet Wally Sparks."
Rodney Dangerfield looks smooth.