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Six Days, Seven Nights Dir: Ivan Reitman Stars:Harrison Ford, Anne Heche, David Schwimmer. A few months ago, director Ivan Reitman was finishing up production on Six Days, Seven Nights, a tidy little romantic tale that was to be Harrison Ford's return to the role of the cocky, smart ass leading man. The movie couldn't miss. It had a sturdy leading man and a hot young actress as his romantic foil. Then he was hit with a problem no director before him had ever had to face. There were meetings, public relation blitzes, and rampant speculation throughout the movie business. Yes, it was true. The scar on Harrison Ford's chin had suddenly and inexplicably healed, taking away all his credibility as a leading man. Ford did his best in the role, but it was obvious it just wasn't him. Guys with no visible scars just can't play roles like this and expect the ticket buying public to buy it. There had been too much publicity, and Ford made too much a point of coming right out in public and actually showing people that his scar had healed. The movie was doomed. Still, Six Days, Seven Nights has some charm. If you forget about the scar, Ford has finally shaken roles as the president, or as a respectable doctor whose wife has been murdered, and put on the swashbuckling boots again. He's a pilot, again defending his old, sturdy ship against the complaints of the passengers. Only this time it's Anne Heche instead of a wookie. The public outcry against the romantic lead in this movie is unprecedented and unfounded. There is some natural chemistry between Ford and Heche, and she, quite astoundingly, manages to match Ford wit for wit throughout. (Again, this could be the scar thing...) Her delivery is sarcastic and on target, and her confusion about whether to leave her fiancé, played by David Schwimmer, is palpable. But there are so many reasons to hate this movie, it's a shame people are simply picking the most popular one. First, one word - pirates. That's right. I said pirates. Black bandanas and a complexion that makes Noriega look like a model for Ponds. It's not enough that Ford and Heche are stranded on the island, they are also attacked by a bunch of modern day jolly rogers. Then there's David Schwimmer, everybody's friend. Schwimmer has one dimension - puppy dog cute. While this can work well if your so-stars are Coutney Cox and a monkey, it doesn't come off too well when other people around you can act. I can't say Schwimmer isn't initially likable, but it wears down quite quickly. So, the bottom line on Six Days, Seven Nights? Don't judge it by the hype. It overcomes most of the problems that have been fed to the general public, but has another set of faults entirely. Sassy, but brainless. If that's your bag, dive in. -Nick |
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