(1988)
2
Brian J. Dillard
It would be nice to paint likable pop singer Cyndi Lauper's film debut as an about face from the mid-'80s screen debacles of her more commercially successful rival, Madonna. Alas, Vibes is just another half-baked screwball farce in the tradition of Shanghai Surprise and Who's That Girl. To Lauper's credit, the film's dismal showing is more the fault of a horrible script than of her own performance, which is competent and displays some awareness of comic timing. Nonetheless, the flick blatantly filches its adventure trappings from the box-office hit Romancing the Stone, resulting in a silly gags-n-guns trifle that wears out Lauper's winsome appeal about halfway through. The singer is cast distressingly to type as an outrageously outfitted Brooklyn gal with a bubblegum-thick accent and a zany sense of humor. Fans may appreciate her psychic shtick, but it's no substitute for actual acting. Peter Falk and Jeff Goldblum don't embarrass themselves too much, but future He Said, She Said and The Beautician and the Beast director Ken Kwapis sure does. Screwball comedy should be witty, elegant, and fluid, but this effort is simply clumsy and strained.
releases for Vibes on AllMovie
Vibes (1988)
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Vibes
Sony Pictures
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February 3, 2009 |
