‘Ninja’ Plot Is Weak, But Farley Is Extremely Funny

Wed., Jan. 29, 1997

Patrice Williamson, Rogers

Hollywood has made yet another pointless film starring former members of “Saturday Night Live,” but this time the movie is actually funny.

Pointless, but funny.

How many times have you gone to the theater to see what was supposed to be a comedy and realized you should have stayed home and watched the film’s commercials, since they were the funniest part of the whole movie? That is certainly not the case here.

“Beverly Hills Ninja” stars Chris Farley as Haru, The Great White Ninja. As an infant, Haru was said to have washed up in a trunk onto a beach in Japan where a group of Ninjas found him and raised him as their own. Haru never really masters the martial art and actually isn’t a real Ninja, but that doesn’t stop him from trying to impress Allison Page (Nicollete Sheridan) who desperately needs a Ninja’s help.

Haru decides to follow Allison to Beverly Hills and investigate why Allison’s boyfriend (Nathaniel Parker) is killing people. Haru’s father knows Haru won’t be able to handle the job alone so he sends Haru’s brother along in disguise to protect him from danger - but mostly from himself.

Of course, an action comedy film can’t be a good one if the star doesn’t have a sidekick - the hotel bell hop (Chris Rock) fulfills that role.

The plot is absolutely ridiculous and rather weak, but Chris Farley’s slapstick comedy kept me laughing during the whole movie. Although I did find myself wondering, “How many windows can Chris Farley fly through and how many tables can he pulverize before it stops being funny?”

I couldn’t come up with an answer, but the movie comes real close to exceeding the smashed furniture limit.

The movie’s lack of a strong plot causes the supporting cast’s acting to be less than memorable. In fact, I suspect that the only reason the rest of the cast is in the movie is so their characters could own walls for Farley to fling himself through.

Farley carries this movie by himself and gives a blue-ribbon performance, but I think if Chris Rock had a more substantial role with more screen time, he could have added his special verbal comedy to the film and taken the movie to new heights.

I strongly recommend this movie - especially if you love physical comedy - because there is never a dull moment. Farley’s timing is excellent and the supporting cast does a fine job of owning beautiful furniture.

Grade: A

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