Jenna Elfman and Matthew McConaughey in "EDtv."

MOVIE INFORMATION

With 10 as a must-see, Jack gives this film a: Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson and Jenna Elfman Director: Ron Howard Rated: PG-13, with profanity, sexual innuendo Length: 122 minutes

ROCHESTERCRITIQUE

Having seen this film, how would you rate it? 10 5 9 4 8 3 7 2 6 1

By Jack Garner
Democrat and Chronicle

(March 26, 1999) -- Before developing a prestige "big movie" reputation with Backdraft, Far and Away and Apollo 13, Ron Howard earned his stripes as a director on blue-collar comedies -- Night Shift, Gung Ho and Splash.

Now he's returned to those roots, rejoining his early writers Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel to create EDtv.

Matthew McConaughey stars in this loose-limbed, light-hearted, comic look at "reality television," the hot-button topic explored in last year's The Truman Show.

Though comparisons with Truman might make the EDtv folks cringe, they're inevitable. Fortunately, in both style and substance EDtv is different enough to justify its existence.

Truman is pristine, powerful and deeply philosophical about privacy and freedom. EDtv is funny, gritty and goofy and has more to do with the tribulations of fame.

Truman is caviar; EDtv is a good hamburger.

Then there's the question of awareness. Truman has no idea he's the star of his own show, or that his family, friends and co-workers are actors. Ed Pekurny (McConaughey) willingly participates in an experimental 24-hours-a-day live TV program, whose co-stars are his real-life brother, parents, co-workers and friends.

Ed knows he's on camera and enjoys it, for a little while. But he discovers that even 15 minutes of fame can be too much.

The San Francisco TV show is the brainchild of a hard-pressed TV producer (Ellen DeGeneres). Her egotistical boss (Rob Reiner) hates the idea -- until the show becomes a hit. Then he claims it as his own.

Ed is a distinctly unambitious underachiever, a video-store clerk with few prospects. He's spotted when his more outgoing brother, Ray (Woody Harrelson), jumps into an audition for the show at a Frisco tavern. The cable network execs pass on Ray, but they like his brother.

At first, Ed buys into the promises of money and fame. But he quickly runs into trouble when he starts romancing his brother's girlfriend (Jenna Elfman). Before you know it, all sorts of family difficulties and conflicts become fodder for millions of TV fans nationwide.

Ed learns that fame has its price -- and he soon decides it ain't worth the effort. But by then he's a star, and the network execs aren't about to let go of a good thing. He did, after all, sign a contract.

As the amiable but confused Ed, McConaughey gives his best performance to date -- a bit wacky and deceptively charming. Elfman (of TV's Dharma & Greg) is also appealing as a plain-Jane girlfriend who feels threatened by the glories and groupies that come to Ed with fame.

The supporting cast is top-flight, especially an intense Harrelson as Ed's ambitious brother and Martin Landau as Ed's sickly but sweet stepfather, an astute, acerbic observer of the craziness of fame.

With handheld cameras rushing hither and yon, Howard and his crew re-create the zaniness of a live show on the run and help boost the film's comic energy.

Though The Truman Show remains the definitive statement on fame in modern society, EDtv adds a lively voice to the debate.