One night stand

By Eric Anderson Catalyst

Send comments to: catalyst@wildcat.arizona.edu

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Daily Wildcat photo courtesy paramount Steve (Will Ferrell, left) and Doug (chris Kattan, right) are the Butabi Brothers, out for a wild and crazy time in "A Night at the Roxbury," the latest film to turn a "Saturday Night Live" skit into a full-length motion picture.

First it was "The Blues Brothers." Then "Wayne's World." Next came "Coneheads," followed by "Wayne's World 2" and the unforgettable box office smash "Stuart Saves His Family." Now add "A Night at the Roxbury" to the list of "Saturday Night Live" skits that have been transformed into big screen ventures.

It's the tale of a dream come true in one night for everybody's favorite head-boppin', club hoppin', goofy suit and even worse haircut wearin', rhythmically challenged brothers, Steve and Doug Butabi.

Produced by SNL guru Lorne Michaels, along with Amy Heckerling ("Fast Times at Ridgemont High"; "Clueless"), "Roxbury" follows the lives of the ultra-confident brothers, played by Will Ferrell (Steve) and Chris Kattan (Doug), as they hit the hot spots of L.A. in search of that which has been deemed ultra-cool.

Whether it's inside the club, outside in line, in a quiet elevator, or at a wedding ceremony, one finds the brothers bobbin' their heads to the music and undoubtedly asking every mortified woman in sight to dance. One of the brothers thinks he's smart, the other thinks he's good-looking, and frankly they're both wrong. Nevertheless, though swiftly rejected, they remain totally unfazed.

This isn't a movie one goes into with lofty expectations. It's pretty simple - if you don't like the Butabi Brothers sketches on SNL, this movie is not going to inspire any sudden change of heart. If you think the skits are funny, the movie will make you laugh your ass off.

Personally, I was rolling. Many scenes are even funnier when I think about them now then when I saw them in the theater. True, the academy won't be knocking on "Roxbury's" door with any awards for plot or performance, but for about 80 minutes, you can sit back and relax, knowing you're laughing at someone who's a thousand times more pathetic than you.

Without spoiling anything, there is one scene that typifies the kind of humor found in "Roxbury." After openly hitting on the bridesmaid at his own wedding, Steve answers the minister (who is negotiating his next engagement on a cell phone as the bride is walking down the aisle) when the minister asks "Do you take this woman to have and to hold... through sickness and health?" Steve answers with the hesitant response of "Well, the caterer is already paid for."

This happens after Steve gives his touching vows: "I saw you in front of my dad's store. We went out. You let me have sex with you."

I was so moved, I almost shed a tear.

Sure, it's got it's slow spots, like every comedy. And hey, how many other flicks can boast that their cast inludes Officer Dennis Booker from "21 Jumpstreet"? Yes, that's right, it's the one and only Richard Grieco starring as none other than... Richard Grieco. Knowing this, what more does one have to say?