TV film fare -- week of Oct. 21

NEW YORK (CNS) -- The following are capsule reviews of theatrical movies on network and cable television the week of Oct 21. Please note that televised versions may or may not be edited for language, nudity, violence and sexual situations.

Sunday, Oct. 21, 7-9 p.m. EDT (Lifetime) "Beautiful Girls" (1996). Returning to his Massachusetts hometown for a high school reunion, a musician (Timothy Hutton) about to turn 30 compares notes with his buddies about girlfriends and the scary prospect of settling down. Director Ted Demme's relationship movie takes a sweetly comical look at young men trying to come to terms with adult responsibilities and the women who love them. Several sexual references about affairs, brief violence and recurring rough language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification of the theatrical version was A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating was R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

Sunday, Oct. 21, 8-10 p.m. EDT (TCM) "Here Comes Mr. Jordan" (1941). Whimsical fantasy in which a saxophone-playing prizefighter (Robert Montgomery) is saved just before dying in an plane crash by an overeager novice angel (Edward Everett Horton) and then has to find a new body in which to live his allotted span. Directed by Alexander Hall, the quest for a suitable replacement may not be very logical but is lots of fun, thanks chiefly to its comic twists, otherworldly special effects and a fine cast, including James Gleason as an incredulous boxing manager and Claude Rains in the title role as the head angel. Not for literal-minded youngsters. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification of the theatrical version was A-II -- adults and adolescents. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.

Sunday, Oct. 21, 10 p.m.-12:15 a.m. EDT (TCM) "Heaven Can Wait" (1978). Charming remake of the 1941 comedy "Here Comes Mr. Jordan," has a past-his-prime quarterback (Warren Beatty) die prematurely but the bungling angel responsible (James Mason) places him in the body of an eccentric millionaire just as he is done in by his wife (Dyan Cannon) and her lover (Charles Grodin). Enlisting the aid of his former coach (Jack Warden) to get his new body into playing form, the now-rich quarterback returns to the gridiron and wins the love of a good woman (Julie Christie). Co-directed by Beatty and Buck Henry, the entertainment succeeds in being very innocent and yet wise and funny. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification of the theatrical version was A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating was PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

Thursday, Oct. 25, 8-10 p.m. EDT (TCM) "Yours, Mine and Ours" (1968). Fact-based story of a Navy widower (Henry Fonda) and a Navy widow (Lucille Ball) who fall in love, get married and merge their 18 children into one big, happy family. Director Melville Shavelson's comedy has predictable but genuinely funny complications such as an interrupted honeymoon, identity crises, bathroom lineups, troop-movement planning and economy sizes. Underneath all the broad humor is a gently moving story that manages to keep in touch with human reality. Truly a family picture. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification of the theatrical version was A-I -- general patronage. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.

Saturday, Oct. 27, 8-9:45 p.m. EDT (HBO) "Eragon" (2006). Reasonably diverting, if predictable, fantasy adventure for youngsters about a farm boy (Ed Speleers) who, after the death of his uncle, learns it's his destiny to become a dragon rider battling an evil king (John Malkovich) and his henchman (Robert Carlyle) in a mythical kingdom, assisted by a retired dragon rider (Jeremy Irons). The script, based on a novel by Christopher Paolini, trots out every cliche known to this genre, but the special effects, especially involving the hero's majestic dragon (voice of Rachel Weisz) are well done. Director Stefan Fangmeier's film is well paced, and the violence, though noisy and chaotic, avoids overt gore, while there are no sex or language concerns. Action violence, magical hocus pocus. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification of the theatrical version was A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating was PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

Saturday, Oct. 27, 8-10:30 p.m. EDT (AMC) "The Exorcist" (1974). Strong screen version of the William Blatty novel about the demonic possession of a young girl (Linda Blair) and the attempts of two priests (Jason Miller and Max von Sydow) to exorcise the devil from her. Directed by William Friedkin, the movie is on shaky ground theologically and its special effects are horrific but the result is an exciting horror fantasy for those with strong stomachs. Its graphic violence, obscene references and foul language make it strictly adult fare. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification of the theatrical version was L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America rating was R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

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Forbes is director of the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

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