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'The Dukes'Nov 17, 2008 (Newsday - McClatchy-Tribune News Service via COMTEX) -- The directorial debut of Robert Davi, a veteran character actor, "The Dukes" tells the story of a small-time Los Angeles doo-wop group that takes an ill-advised turn to crime. None of the 50-something Dukes - bandleader Danny (Davi) and backup singers George (Chazz Palminteri) and Armond (the late Frank D'Amico) - look old enough to have enjoyed doo-wop's heyday, though their manager, Lou (filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich, nearing 70) is more believable. At any rate, when the band's last bid for success - singing in tomato costumes for a low-budget commercial - goes bust, the three plan to knock over a dentist's office where a safe full of gold awaits. Like the 1958 Italian caper-comedy "Big Deal on Madonna Street" - seemingly an influence here - "The Dukes" gets by mainly on generosity of spirit. The script, by Davi and James Andronica, maintains a light feel, concentrating more on genial banter than suspense. The sweetness grows cloying by the end, but perhaps that's fitting for a film that's so clearly a labor of love. --- THE DUKES 2 stars Cast: Robert Davi, Chazz Palminteri, Peter Bogdanovich Length: 1:34 Rated PG-13 for brief sexuality and drug references This modest caper-comedy feels lovingly made, but a little too good-natured for its own good. --- (c) 2008, Newsday. Visit Newsday online at http://www.newsday.com/ Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] |