'Too Little,' Too Late: Murray's 'Man' falls short

There is something about Bill Murray that can give any meager movie some charm. When he acts, it is always with grace and ease, as though he is ignorant of any filming taking place.

REVIEW
	The Man Who Knew Too Little At Briarwood and Showcase

Funny he should snatch the lead role in "The Man Who Knew Too Little," which concerns a man who mistakes an international conspiracy for merely a theatrical performance.

Murray plays Wallace Ritchie, who has not one inkling of an idea how his evening will turn out when he decides to surprise his brother James (Peter Gallagher) in London.

Much to his chagrin - it being his birthday and all - Wallace is shuffled out of James' stuffy, posh home.

James and his wife, it seems, are ashamed of Wallace's low aspirations in life, namely his status as a Blockbuster Video salesman, and refuse to allow his rash and crude conversation at their elitist dinner party.

So, James arranges for Wallace to take part in the "Theater of Life," a participatory theatrical performance, like MTV's "The Real World" but only for three hours.

Coincidentally (ready for this?), the call from a phone booth he was supposed to receive from one of the actors turns out to be a phone call from a government-hired assassin who intends to destroy the peace accord between the United Kingdom and Russia, furthering the Cold War between the two countries.

Bill Murray stars as Wallace Ritchie, the title character in "The Man Who Knew Too Little." The movie also stars Joanne Whalley as a call girl who knows even less.

What has Wallace gotten himself into? That is the ultimate question that he never faces. He merely assumes that the conspiracy is all part of the act, and everyone will essentially step out of character by the end of the evening.

Wallace jumps from "scene to scene," outsmarting Russian hitmen and impressing a call girl with his outright ignorance and sarcasm, meanwhile getting closer and closer to disrupting the plan to blow up the British and Russian leaders.

He is amazed by everyone's clever and brave performances, and, at one point, declares that he cannot wait to meet the actors and actresses in person after the show.

It is he, however, that is staging the greatest performance.

After Wallace's strange and eventful evening, one would think that his relationship with brother James would be patched up by the end of the movie. Instead, and disappointingly, James grovels at Wallace's feet, confessing to his unexciting life and his wish that he had lived on the edge the way Wallace does.

The plot is interesting and inventive, and sustains a certain level of enjoyment. But the fun of "The Man Who Knew Too Little," directed by Jon Amiel, rests on Bill Murray's lackluster performance - not that it's Murray's fault.

Somehow, the script just isn't clever enough to make any lasting impressions. Murray has ample opportunities to deliver, but falls short in many scenes.

What's left of his humor in this movie are some of his more immature lines, reminiscent of those in "What About Bob?"

Funny scenes include a ridiculous Russian dance scene where he juggles the very bomb ticking towards destruction and a car chase with the police as he drives like a maniac and is loving every minute of it.

As for the rest of the cast, they ultimately fade into mediocrity with Murray. Gallagher is way overboard in his emotions, as if he were trying to satirize his own character. Joanne Whalley (call-girl) is strong and individualistic in the beginning, but soon becomes uninteresting as she follows Murray around like a puppy dog.

Because there are high expectations for Murray, let's hope this movie isn't a sign of a downhill trend for him; the Murray I know and love is out there somewhere.

11-17-97