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weekender march 22 1986 p19 weekender ntertainmen ejtgarj courjsy dining 48 ttjiiunrion sticrt miikranx oneiric w imvka pic ou 294646s movie scene just between friends a slick dramatic comedy by ian bailey just between friends it should probably come as no surprise that slick dramatic comedy moves along with the pacing and pat conclu sions of a highlytuned sitcom after all it was produced by mtm enterprises the studio behind such tv hits as ne- whart wkrp in cincinnati and rhoda but what is quite surprising here is the films plot which unfolds like a series of well- timed explosions it concerns the complications that arise when a housewife mary tyler moore the founder of mtm unknowingly befriends the mistress christine lahti of her husband ted danson to say much more about the surprising events that arise from this pointed triangle would probably steal half the fun in a film too cute to be taken seriously but amusing enough to be entertaining its enough to say that the plot unfolds in directions that while not unex pected are progressively more outlandish the dramatic centre of just between friends is the rela tionship between moores naive character and lahtis more worldly character but its a core that only works to a point because of the simplistic shading of moores character indeed writerdirector alan burns cocreator of the mary tyler moore show and one of its spinoffs lou grant has an occasional weakness for ped dling cliches where characters would do and while he has a genuinely amusing ear for dia logue he sometimes inserts jokes in the most tragic mo ments of the film at least his film has two adroit performances from sam waterston as dansons ner vous buddy and danson him self who plays a rat but one with two sides that we see aa thornhill square fix so how does a film spe cial effects expert get even with government agents who set him up and try to kill him why he just uses special effects gadgets to fight back thats the plot and point of this engaging thriller whose only real failing is that its never quite as tricky as you might ex pect it to be at least it features a good performance from au stralian actor bryan brown as the slightly crazy technician pg out of africa robert redford plays denys finch hatton a british hunter in kenya in 1914 who fell in love with karen blixen meryl strep a danish woman who managed a coffee plantation for 20 years and later wrote ab out africa under the pseudonym of isak dinesen this majestic epic from direc tor sydney tootsie pollack moves slowly at times but its an intriguing drama where length means depth instead of tedium pg markville the color purple an occasionally overdone steven spielberg adaption of alice walkers pulitzerprize win ning novel about 40 grim years in the life of a black woman in the southern us although spielbergs flamboyant cinematic style sometimes seems at odds with the simplic ity of the plot the movie is worth seeing for its flawless performances nominated for christine lahti and mary tyler moore star in the mtm production of just between friends currently showing at the thornhill cinema 11 academy awards pg down and out in bever ly hills the lives of a neurotic beverly hills family are disrupted with amusing re sults when they take in a bum who tries to drown himself in their pool good performances by richard dreyfuss and bette midler in this amusing and adroit satire by paul mazurs- ky the director of moscow on the hudson aa coarse language policy adademy iii back in training the first two police academy movies about a collection of misfits in an anonymous urban police force made a total of 300 million at the box office it should therefore come as no surprise that a third film has arrived this one was filmed in toronto last year and stars steve guttenberg bubba smith and michael winslow pg sleeping beauty a re- release of walt disneys 1959 version of the classic fairy tale f christine lahti and mary tyl er moore star in the mtm pro- duction of just between friends currently showing at the thornhill cinema therell be high jinx at wellington tonight the wellington in the markham mall will be present ing local talent high jinx the show starts at 930 pm no cover charge every sunday night is movie night watch your favorite movies on the wellingtons 10fool screen there is no cover charge and the popcorn is free for furth er information on movie night call 2943185 fletchers tonight fletchers hwy 48 south of aurora sideroad will be presenting the music of aardvark dj service markham theatre the markham theatre will be presenting the chambers play ers of toronto with special guest erica goodman on the harp march 25 the program includes music by lully rameau and de bussy call 4790201 for tickets otooles roadhouse every saturday win a weekend for two at the hotel renaissance all patrons can pick up their free tickets at the door between 8 and 930 pm only105 le flirt le flirt located in the old town hall on main st markham features dancing to top 40 music every monday to wednesday night is rhythm and blues nitc at le flirt featuring some motown music the club is located in the lower level at 96 main st north old village spaghetti gord best is featured at old vil lage spaghetti houses village pub tonight sunday is movie nile the restaurant is on main st north in markham whats on 2jonna cox 2942200 nags head tonight at the nags head woodbine ave north of stecles ave trcs hombrcs a zz top tri bute band will be featured tick ets are 3 this sunday to tuesday pega sus will be featured cotton club saturday nights at the cotton club experience the wave new music high energy cotton club is on hwy 48 south of 14th ave hobby horse arms tom baker the former musical director of the second city revue will be featured every saturday night at the hobby horse arms on main st uxbridge the piano soloist plays from a collec tion of pub songs and will also play requests showtime is 830 pm and there is no cover charge the duchess of markham every sunday is jam nite at the duchess featuring jane har vey all amateurs are welcome footloose roadhouse every saturday is the super platter giveaway nitc at foot loose in mr grocer plaza it will be served at the table there will be two chances to win every tuesday is oldie nitc featuring music from the 50s to the 70s reservations are recom mended for the weekends mainstreet bryan westwood trio will per form at mainstreet restaurant in markham fernandos restaurant fernandos is presenting hits of the blitz encore a show packed with music and comedy from world war ii this show features vic cummings peter glen rum my bishop coralie allan and deano seward the show runs friday and saturday night dinner is from 7 to 9 pm and curtain time is 9 15 pm the price is 2395 per person for dinner and show the res taurant is on markhamsmainst melbas restaurant dine to the classical guitqr sounds of paul brooks every weekend at this washington st markham restaurant reserva tions are recommended brodies bar and grill friday and saturday night the thursday through to sun day rick washbrook will per form at brodies bar and grill hwy 7 in unionville no cover charge deer park inn theatre in the park deer park inn on hwy 47 north of stouff ville is presenting barefoot in the park a neil simon comedy re commended for the whole family call 6406060 for reservations dinner is at 730 pm for this en gagement the show runs on thursday friday and saturday evenings with matinees on wednesdays in the entertainment lounge saturday night the house band will be playing a selection of music from big bands to modern the show starts at845 pm and runs until close ristorante thursday through saturday dine to the guitar playing of pino at this italian restaurant in the old town hall on main st mar kham the greens of stouffville watch tsn sports everyday at this main st stouffville res taurant also dine to the music oi david chester tonight