USCCB - (Office of Media Relations) -

My Favorite Martian
Debuts on Movie Line

WASHINGTON (February 12, 1999) -- The 1-800-311-4CCC movie line reviews My Favorite Martian for the week of February 12-18. Also included on the toll-free line is a review of Young Mr. Lincoln, this week's suggested home video for family viewing.

The 800 movie review line is a project of the Catholic Communication Campaign (CCC).

The February 12-18 list includes the following theater releases and their classifications according to moral suitability. Movies are evaluated according to artistic merit and moral suitability by the U.S. Bishops' Office for Film and Broadcasting.

My Favorite Martian -- Because of slapstick violence, fleeting rear nudity, occasional sexual innuendo and toilet humor as well as a few instances of profanity, the U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. My Favorite Martian is a dopey comedy based on the `60's sitcom in which TV reporter Jeff Daniels tries to help alien Christopher Lloyd return to Mars before the government grabs him. Heavy use of special effects makes the frantic proceedings wacky but not witty or worthwhile.
Blast from the Past -- Because of mild sexual references, occasional profanity and an instance of rough language, the U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned that some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. Blast from the Past is a fairly amusing comedy with Brendan Fraser as a 35-year-old man emerging for the first time from the nuclear fallout shelter in which he was born and raised to see if it's safe enough aboveground to find a mate. The goofy premise provides some fun as the underground innocent breezes through the complexities of modernday life, while winning friends with his unshakeable wholesomeness.
Message in a Bottle -- Because of a discreet bedroom scene, fleeting violence and occasional profanity, the U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned that some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. Message in a Bottle is a gauzy romance in which widowed North Carolina boat builder Kevin Costner so loved his late wife, he's reluctant to take a chance on love again with Chicago single mom Robin Wright Penn. Despite pretty scenery and appealing performances, the slow, soppy proceedings furnish little insight on the story's themes of loss, hope and renewal.
Rushmore -- Because of brief violence, an implied affair, a few crass sexual references, a flash of nudity, underage drinking, occasional rough language and minimal profanity, The U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Rushmore is an offbeat comedy in which a hyperactive adolescent's crush on a widowed schoolteacher leads him to extremes in trying to stop a married millionaire from romancing her. The bittersweet tale of a teenager's grappling with rejection and forgiveness is helped by performances which blend humor with pathos.
Payback -- Because of excessive violence, exploitative sexual situations, drug abuse, intermittent profanity and much rough language, the U.S. Catholic Conference classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Payback is a mindless action movie featuring Mel Gibson as a mad-dog killer seeking revenge on those who hijacked his loot and left him for dead. The movie's sadistic violence is depicted in jokey fashion intended to make the killer seem a supercool hero.
Little Voice -- Because of fleeting violence, an implied affair, brief nudity, some profanity and recurring rough language, the U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Little Voice is an engaging British comedy-drama in which third-rate talent agent Michael Caine tries to make a singing star out of an insistent widow's shy but very talented daughter. The thin story succeeds best as a character piece brought to life by a fine cast.

The family video of the week is Young Mr. Lincoln -- The U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-I -- general patronage. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of
America. Young Mr. Lincoln stars Henry Fonda in the title role as an unassuming country lawyer relying on his sense of humor as well as knowledge of the law to defend an innocent farm lad charged with murder. The 1939 production is an engaging excursion in Americana, with attention to the homespun virtues that would soon propel the young Lincoln into Illinois politics and the White House.

The classifications are A-I - general patronage; A-II - adults and adolescents; A-III - adults; A-IV - adults, with reservations (an A-IV classification designates problematic films that, while not morally offensive in themselves, require caution and some analysis and explanation as a safeguard against wrong interpretations and false conclusions); O - morally offensive.

The movie reviews are produced by the U.S. Catholic Conference (USCC) Office for Film and Broadcasting, which each week provides full length movie reviews, brief capsules and film classifications of new theater releases.

Reviewers include Henry Herx, Director, and Gerri Pare, Associate Director, of the Film and Broadcasting Office, which is funded by the CCC.

The capsule reviews are available on the World Wide Web. They can be found on two sites: http://www.nccbuscc.org and http://www.catholicdigest.org/stops/movies/index.html.

Full-length reviews of the above and other movies are available through America Online at the Catholic News Service site on AOL, and can be accessed by AOL members using the keyword, "CNS."