a movie review by: Bill DeLapp

The 1977 template directed by Ted Kotcheff, with George Segal and Jane Fonda as unemployed married yuppies who comically plot against a nasty boss (Ed McMahon during his "Heigh-Ho!" days), was a sizable box-office hit during the Jimmy Carter years. So for those Americans still held hostage by the never-ending Bush administration, director Dean Parisot's remake certainly has timeliness on its side.

Set in the year 2000, go-getter exec Dick Harper (Jim Carrey) has all the requisite perks: a lavish suburban home, a Mexican maid and a Beamer in the driveway. He also seems to be on the fast track at the California-based Globodyne Corporation: His new position as vice president of communications means his wife Jane (Tea Leoni) can quit her job at the travel agency and devote more time to family duties. Even Dubya is on the campaign trail, as he's featured in a sound bite and telling his audience, "We must never be a winner-take-all society."

But the clear winner here is Globodyne honcho Jack McAllister (Alec Baldwin in smarmy creepster mode), who has sold off his holdings for $400 million. Meanwhile, the company is heading for file-shredding bankruptcy (cue the Ralph Nader cameo), the stock options and employee pensions are worthless and key execs have become fall guys for looming indictments, with McAllister apparently getting off scot-free. As with the earlier film, however, the focus remains on the Harpers coping with nonexistent paychecks and job opportunities, albeit tailored to recent headlines regarding Enron's financial meltdown and deeply disturbing revelations of corruption.

Carrey's usual mania ratchets up the slapstick situations, such as Dick crazily digging up neighborhood divots as a patchwork replacement for his property's repossessed lawn, as well as an extended interlude involving Dick about to be deported alongside a group of illegal Mexican aliens. (In a gag line that references the movie's production company Imagine Entertainment, which is partly run by Ron Howard, actor-brother Clint Howard as an immigration official checks the phony IDs and declares, "We got us Don Johnson, Elvis and Opie Taylor!") A few comic moments have a sad undercurrent of truth, however, especially when Dick is forced to become a minimum-wage greeter at a Sam's Club-type warehouse--an occupation that many middle-class baby boomers might have to embrace unless the nation's Social Security woes can be rectified.

The 1977 version boasted some neat chemistry from its central stars, plus the then-shocking bit of Fonda peeing on the throne while chatting with Segal, a tad of reality amid an otherwise airy confection. Beyond the subtle Bush bashing, Parisot's OK redo strives for similar light-entertainment vibes, as Dick and Jane morph into a Bonnie-and-Clyde tandem zanily disguised as Film Star couples including Bill and Hillary and Sonny and Cher. (Note the scene with co-star Jeff Garlin trying not to laugh when Carrey's Dick, in cat burglar togs, speaks through a voice modulator.)

Yet even with Carrey's rambunctious bravado and Leoni's pleasing oomph carrying this business satire, it never has enough bite to draw blood, notably in the lackluster final third when the Harpers orchestrate some payback against McAllister. Fun with Dick and Jane lives up to its genial title most of the time (you just gotta love the moment when the near-destitute family lathers up for impromptu showers at a lawn sprinkler), but it also feels more tamped-down and mild instead of amped-up and wild. Like an unemployment check, it makes you want so much more.

Alec Baldwin Photo

Angie Harmon Photo

Jim Carrey Photo

Tea Leoni Photograph