Screens That's a wrap

The low-down on this week's premieres

I guess nobody wanted to go up against The Dukes of Hazzard and Jessica Simpson's toned legs. The Johhnny-come-lately film adaptation of the early '80s television series is the only mainstream film to hit theaters this Friday. The film stars Sean William Scott (Road Trip) and Johnny Knoxville (Walking Tall) as "good old boy" cousins Bo and Luke Duke; their attractive cousin Daisy is played by Simpson. Troublemaking County Commissioner Boss Hogg (Burt Reynolds) is trying to take the family farm, so the cousins and their Uncle Jesse (Willie Nelson) kick it into high gear in their classic 1969 orange Dodge Charger to save their spread. Lynda Carter (TV's original Wonder Woman) also gets some screentime.

In addition to Simpson's short shorts, the film is receiving a lot of controversial attention since the Confederate flag still adorns the hood of the car and Ben Jones, who played the original Cooter Davenport on the television show, said the new film is "sleazy" and "shows an arrogant disrespect for (the series)."

Saint Ralph tells the story of a 14-year-old boy named Ralph Walker (Adam Butcher) as he competes in the 1954 Boston Marathon. With a sick mother at home, Ralph hopes that winning the race will be a big enough miracle to save her life.

Happy Endings interweaves the lives of a plethora of characters who are seeking love and happiness in their own contorted ways `see "Comrades in arm-twisting" in this issue`. The film stars Lisa Kudrow (Analyze That), Maggie Gyllenhaal (Secretary), and Tom Arnold (Soul Plane).

Although the film studio has repeatedly pushed back the San Antonio premiere, the French film Après Vous `see "No good deed goes unpunished," July 14-20, 2005` is rumored to be finally hitting the silver screen at the Bjiou Theater. The film follows two men, one of whom saves the other from suicide, as they befriend each other and become infatuated with the same woman. •

By Kiko Martinez