Category: JNL

There is a delightful new comedy out for teens and 20-somethings. “Lost and Found,” which stars “Just Shoot Me” cast member David Spade, is a comical variation on the same old “Boy meets Girl” plot. “Lost” combines a well-chosen cast, funny-enough jokes, and the character and humorous personality of David Spade. Spade, who many describe…

Following an interim of 16 years since the last “Star Wars” movie, creator George Lucas has returned with a vengeance and the $125 million ‘Phantom Menace.’ I loved it. After so much hype and exposure, I had felt that there was no way the movie could live up to expectations, but it definitely did. A…

The big hits produced in the Midwest during the ’60s are back on this two-CD set. All of those teen bands with such clever names are here: Dudley and the Doo-Rytes, The Trashmen, and, of course, The Unbelievable Uglies! In fact, no band on this album has a name without the word “the” in it.…

Scott Adams’s newest book, “Journey to Cubeville,” combines well-told jokes with nicely done drawings from the life of Dilbert, the main character of the comic strip. The strip tells the story of the life of Dilbert and his colleagues. Also included are Dogbert, the canine Network Administrator, and Catbert, the evil Human Relations director. “Dilbert”…

Robin Williams is hearing the voice of Oscar in his ear once again. He gives an amazing performance in “Patch Adams,” playing a middle-aged medical student who yearns to help people stuck in hospitals. In other words, he wants to “treat the patient, not the disease.” “Patch Adams” tells the story of a once self-committed…

Contest judge Sarah Finley chose Chris Finke’s lyrics, written to the tune of “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer,” as the winner for the JNL holiday contest. Finke, 14, will get $25 for his entry. Here’s what he wrote: A foreword: A brand-new Christmas carol Was what we were to compose For this JNL contest. Finley’s mind…

Jerry Seinfeld is back, after the culmination of his hit TV show, with this recording of his Broadway show. He pokes fun at life’s little quirks and discusses important topics, from McDonald’s to skydiving. In this, Seinfeld’s first comedy album, he keeps the audience in stitches 70-plus minutes, all the way from the bit about…

Ian Michael Smith has his debut in this wonderful film about life, friends and God. Acting in correlation with Joseph Mazzello and Jim Carrey, he does a great job. The movie is about a 12-year-old dwarf named Simon Birch (Smith). He was recorded as the smallest baby delivered ever in the small town of Gravestown,…

Eddie Murphy and Jeff Goldblum star in this new comedy about religion and home shopping networks. The differences of disposition in these characters allow these actors to work better by bouncing off the other’s personality. Murphy, who has a funny, lighthearted demeanor, and the always serious Goldblum interact and form some comical scenes. Murphy plays…

“What Dreams May Come” combines the acting talents of Robin Williams and Cuba Gooding Jr. with amazing scenery and astounding special effects. When you add in the clever writing and spiritual lessons, it factors up to a remarkable movie. The story is about two soul mates, Chris (Williams) and Annie (Annabella Sciorra). They marry, have…

“Mulan,” Disney’s latest animated feature — that’s “cartoon” in layman’s terms — maintains its standard of excellence. “Mulan” has the elements of most Disney movies: a brave hero or hero­ine, a goofy animal sidekick, and a good story line. The story of Mulan comes from an ancient Chinese legend, which is as well-known in China…

7 p.m. Monday, channels 9 (WGN) and 18 (WVTV) This show is one of the best dramas on television. The father, Erik Camden (Stephen Collins) is a minister at the church; the mother, Annie (Catherine Hicks) is a housewife with five kids: Matt, 18, Mary, 15, Lucy, 13, Simon, 11 and Ruthie, 5. The show…

Leslie Nielsen stars in this new comedy as Mr. Magoo, a near-blind character from a children’s cartoon series. He portrays the nearsighted man very well, from the squinting to his well-known laugh, “Oh ho ho, Magoo. You’ve done it again!” The movie starts out (and ends up) as a cartoon, showing all of the mayhem…

Metallica’s newest CD, “Reload,” which is a continuation of its last CD, “Load,” has lots of first-rate music to listen to. It gives their fans more of their well-known music. Using a fast tempo in the majority of the songs on this album, it has an addicting beat and enticing melodies. “Fuel” is a song…

Disney re-released the 1989 animated musical “The Little Mermaid” on Friday, Nov. 14, but only for 17 days. The question is: Did they do it for the children or for the money? People had their own opinions as they lined up to see the show at Janesville’s Mall Cinemas. The romantic movie seems to appeal…

The movie, based on the British television series, is living up to its good reputation. Rowan Atkinson does a great job as Mr. Bean, a very, very strange man. Atkinson is talented in using his entire body while he’s acting. Mr. Bean is a guard at an art gallery in England; however, none of the…

The board game, “Blurt” manufactured by Patch Products of Beloit, is a good fun game for a wide range of ages. It consists of cards that have a definition on them; after the definition is read, the first person to blurt out the correct answer gets to move the specified number of spaces. The first…

Members of Stone Temple Pilots have put together this band, and it’s worth listening to. The singers’ voices aren’t annoying, they have a good sound, and the voices don’t get wavy or soft. “Ring Twice” combine sadness with a feeling that just can’t be described. The lyrics aren’t sad, but the sound of the singer’s…

Carrot Top stars in this hilarious movie, which could be described as part of his autobiography. He plays Edison, a novelty inventor with ideas such as an emergency brake for his surfboard. His biggest regret is that he took four years of chemistry and he still doesn’t know what’s in Cheez Whiz. When Edison is…

Michael Richards and Jeff Daniels team up in the movie dubbed “the second most outrageous trial of the century.” Richards, better known as Kramer on “Seinfeld,” and Daniels are an actor-lawyer combo that will cause you to split your sides laughing. Daniels plays Charlie Tuttle, a lawyer who graduated from Yale University. His best friend,…