Movie Review
'Wild Things' excites imagination
Campus Times
March 27, 1998
Seen any movie-goers leaving the theater looking completely dumbfounded
and thoroughly confused? Some are angry, others just shake their head, and
the comment most heard is, "That was a weird movie!"
There is no middle ground with "Wild Things," with a plot
that shifts as often as a rollercoaster. Viewers who appreciate a zany,
although witty, plot find it oddly entertaining. On the other hand, someone
who needs to figure out what each character is about and what they plan
to do, proving their brilliance to all of their sidekicks, "Wild Things"
will leave a bad taste in the mouth and a throbbing headache.
Not much can be said about this thriller/mystery, without giving away
the end, that seems to justify the means, in this case.
The beginning appears to be a basic storyline. Sam Lombardo (Matt Dillon,
"In & Out"), a high school guidance counselor deemed "Educator
of the Year" is brought to court on rape charges. The accuser is a
sexy and seductive student, Kelly Van Ryan (Denise Richards, "Starship
Troopers"), who had appeared to have been throwing herself at Lombardo
from the get-go. Kelly had done everything to get his attention, including
asking for a ride home and washing his Jeep.
Kelly's mother, Sandra (Theresa Russell, "Gentlemen Don't Eat Poets"),
one of the community's most wealthy and high-powered women, is outraged
that her daughter has been raped by one of her many former lovers.
"How dare he do this to me," the oh-so-concerned mother screams
to the detectives.
To back up Kelly's accusation in court is "trailer trash"
outcast Suzie Toller (Neve Campbell, "Scream 2"), who also claims
she was raped by Mr. Lombardo. It is strange that Kelly and Suzie's first
scene together includes a swapping of obscenities and hand gestures, although
in court Suzie testifies for Kelly.
Luckily, Lombardo has a hilariously scheming attorney Ken Bowden (Bill
Murray, "The Man Who Knew Too Little").
Also starring in director John McNaughton's ("Normal Life")
"Wild Things" is Kevin Bacon, ("Picture Perfect") and
Daphne Rubin-Vega ("I Like It Like That"), who both star as detectives
of the rape case.
Without getting much more involved in the plot, one must realize that
although this is all that can be told, it is clearly not where the movie
ends. McNaughton cleverly makes every character the viewer's enemy, lost
of all innocence.
"Wild Things," rated R for language and violence, crosses
that risque line, showing heated bisexual love scenes and explicit male
nudity.
Screenwriter Stephen Peters ("The Fourth War") has a wild
imagination that could have only dreamt up this wacky drama. It takes talent
to not only make viewers laugh, gasp and wince, but cause them to think
at the same time.
"Wild Things" has so many twists and turns that even with
a map and compass, one would get lost.
A word of advice to viewers: When the credits start rolling, stay to
gather thoughts.
