Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert review six new movies and recommend two movies on video starring the late John Candy. A split vote on
Guarding Tess (1994). Siskel got tired of the jokes and thought the movie lost heart; Ebert thought the movie has nothing but heart. Two thumbs down for
Lightning Jack (1994). The comic western with Paul Hogan is genial but dispensable: "Your friendly host for a boring evening at the movies," says Ebert. Two more thumbs down for
The Hudsucker Proxy (1994). The Coen brothers' throwback to screwball comedies à la Preston Sturges has a great set-up but no pay-off and Dennis Gassner's production design upstages the characters. A split vote for
The Ref (1994). Ebert liked the funny characters and their dialogue; Siskel lost interest halfway through. Two thumbs up for _Belle epoque (1992)_. The Oscar nominee from Spain is a light romantic comedy with serious politics on its mind. Two thumbs up for
Germinal (1993). The Emile Zola adaptation from France is a terrifically photographed story of rich versus poor. John Candy's recent death prompts two video recommendations:
Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987) and
Only the Lonely (1991).
—J. Spurlin