Beverly Hills Ninja

Kung Fool. Chris Farley is at his slapstick best as an improbable ninja. Even though this surprisingly delightful film plays on a few stereotypes, it produces infinitely more laughs than groans. The comedy begins in Japan with orphaned Farley (Haru) training with his martial arts brothers at a secret dojo to learn the lethal, invincible ways of the ninja clan. Haru's smallish brain, clumsiness, and lead feet signal an ineptitude for the sacred ninja way. He is persuaded to go to Beverly Hills on a dangerous mission to protect a beautiful woman named Alison (Nicolette Sheridan) from her counterfeiting boyfriend, who also has a reputation for murder. Bungling and incompetent, Haru faces all kinds of amusing challenges in the wilds of Beverly Hills. All goof and a guaranteed good time, Beverly Hills Ninja is Chris Farley's best movie to date. (A. Glover)