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PICKS & PANS |
This week's reviews: 'National Security,' 'The Voice,' 'Star Search'
(PEOPLE) -- This week, PEOPLE.COM looks at the film "National Security," Syleena Johnson's album "Chapter 2:The Voice" and "Star Search" on CBS.
Go to: Movies | Music | TV
Movie review: 'National Security'
I read the other day that for a doctoral thesis someone had expounded on Hollywood's frequent pairing of black and white male stars in buddy comedies. Here's an undistinguished addition to the genre. "Security" sticks to shopworn formula: a smart-mouthed security guard (Martin Lawrence) is unwillingly thrown together with a no-nonsense partner (Steve Zahn) to chase smugglers, and the two end up best buddies. The action sequences are slapdash, the jokes pitiful and the performers are merely marking time.
Bottom line: It's a "National" disgrace
-- Leah Rozen
Music review: 'Chapter 2:The Voice'
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Syleena Johnson (Jive)
When you subtitle your album "The Voice," you had better not warble like J. Lo. On the sequel to Johnson's 2001 debut disc, "Chapter 1: Love, Pain & Forgiveness," the singer brings to mind the classic-soul era, when it was all about the pipes rather than the producers or the videos. With her bluesy, grits-and-gravy alto, she gives a down-home flavor to gospel-tinged ballads like the R. Kelly-written "Guess What." Best, though, is "Guitars of the Heart (Happy)," which, with its rootsy acoustic guitar and Johnson's raspy, earthy vocals, sounds like India.Arie meets Millie Jackson.
Bottom line: Singing her praises
-- Chuck Arnold
TV review: 'Star Search'
CBS (check listings)
Adult singer, junior singer, comedian and model are the four official categories in this network revival of the syndicated talent-contest series that Ed McMahon fronted in the '80s and '90s. But with Arsenio Hall in the house, we can't help focusing on the one-man category of host. "Let's get this party started," Hall says, trying to reestablish the fanatically upbeat mood of his late-night show, which got the ax back in 1994. And he has a new catchphrase -- "Hit me with the digits!" -- when it's time to total up the scores. Some of his quips are dated -- Leon Spinks? Ebonics? -- but Hall crams in as many as possible before he has to step aside and let the contestants display their gifts.
Like him or not, Hall is about the only reason to watch this retread (airing Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET in January before the big finale February 6). The judges surely aren't earning many points, what with Ben Stein's forced political references and Naomi Judd's phony homespun wisdom. Hall keeps boasting that "Star Search" is live, but there's something to be said for editing out embarrassments. The January 15 episode ended in a sea of confusion over the rules.
Bottom line: Search elsewhere
-- Terry Kelleher
