Screen Scene
By Daily Bruin Staff
Oct. 22, 1998 9:00 p.m.
Friday, October 23, 1998
Screen Scene
"The Alarmist"
Directed by Evan Dunsky
Starring David Arquette, Stanley Tucci,
Mary McCormick and Kate Capshaw
"The world is a dangerous place. Live safely," offers the final
moments of "The Alarmist."
That’s a good point  the only one the strangely comical
film even hints at in an hour and a half of eyebrow-wrinkling,
head-scratching action.
The dark comedy stars David Arquette as Thomas Hudler, an
appealing young salesman who takes a job with Grigoris Security
Systems. Under the wings of veterans Heinrich (Stanley Tucci) and
Sally (Mary McCormick), Tom is an instant success, getting lucky at
his first home visit … in more ways than one.
With a promising career and his beautiful new girlfriend, Gail
(played by the elegant Kate Capshaw), his life seems to be heading
in a bright direction away from his trailer-trash roots. That is,
until Tom casually discovers that, in his spare time, Heinrich
enjoys burglarizing the very homes that he aims to secure. From
there, Tom’s life unravels in a series of odd, inexplicable
events.
The amusingly sardonic film (reminiscent of 1997’s underrated
"Zero Effect") is embodied by the comic talents of a great ensemble
cast. Following his now-classic role in the "Scream" movies,
Arquette reprises a similarly wacky, naive, yet cynical, character
in his first starring role. His ability to carry a movie is
undeniable, although his dramatic attempts are sometimes
unconvincing, and he is slightly off as a good romantic lead. Half
the movie’s appeal is Arquette’s curious facial expressions and
animated energy.
The other half belongs to an impressive supporting cast, led by
Tucci as Tom’s unscrupulous mentor. McCormick provides some laughs
in the opening moments with her quirky, straight-faced quality, but
her efforts go to waste for the remainder of the film with a weakly
developed script.
An unexpected star of the film is Ryan Reynolds as Gail’s
sexually avid teenage son Howard. Now featured in the ABC sitcom
"Two Guys, A Girl and A Pizza Place," Reynolds provides a crack-up
moment in his limited role when Howard vividly depicts a recent
sexual encounter in all his wide-eyed glory.
As incomprehensible as "The Alarmist" is, the spark is found in
the cast’s style and wit. The group is so intriguing that many of
the loose ends  including Sally’s unresolved feelings for Tom
and Gail’s strange behavior at Tom’s parents’ home  can be
reluctantly forgiven.
Audiences will likely spend the entire movie waiting to be
enlightened by the ultimate point. They won’t find it, but in the
meantime they’ll have fun.
Louise ChuLions Gate Films
Kate Capshaw stars as Gale in "The Alarmist."
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