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WILD THINGS is a trashy treat. Matt Dillon plays an edge-of-the- Everglades guidance counselor, accused of rape by one of his high school students (STARSHIP TROOPERS' Denise Richards). Theresa Rus- sell plays the rich-bitch (and nymphomaniac) mother, while Bill Murray (!) and Robert Wagner (!!) duke it out as opposing attor- neys. Neve Campbell (SCREAM 2) shows up a little later as a key witness, while Kevin Bacon patrols the fringe as a local law of- ficer. Needless to say, sleaze ensues, but not nearly as much as expected. Director John McNaughton (HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER) opts for a restrained touch. He rarely goes whole-hog over-the-top and, thus, the film feels more than a little lethar- gic. (I looked at my watch.) Still, this ain't your typical not- made-for-cable-TV thriller. When did you last see a courtroom cat- fight a la Jerry Springer? Or Kevin Bacon flashing the Full Monty? Or a series of explanatory scenes shown over the closing credits? Pretty cool. (Rated "R"/108 min.) Grade: B Copyright 1998 Michael J. Legeros Movie Hell is a trademark of Michael J. Legeros
Originally posted to triangle.movies in MOVIE HELL: In Brief