# Lost & Found (1999/I)

### reviewed by
Bob Bloom

Lost and Found (1999) 1 star out of 4. Starring David Spade and Sophie Marceau.

David Spade is at his best - if such a word is applicable to this annoying little man - when he plays the sarcastic twerp.

Trying to turn Spade into a romantic lead is like trying to convert me into a figure skater. In other words, it can't be done.

However, director Jeff Pollack manfully tries to achieve the impossible in "Lost and Found," a very uneven and dull comedy.

Spade plays Dylan Ramsey, owner of a small Italian restaurant whose dream is to expand his operations into the vacant space next door.

He also would like to find the girl of his dreams.

Another stretch, trying to convince an audience that Spade is an entrepreneur, a go-getter. That takes people skills, something most of his characters lack in abundance.

"Lost and Found" revolves around Dylan's attempts to win the heart of his new neighbor, Lila Dubois (the ethereal Sophie Marceau). She is a cellist trying to start a professional career in the United States and, at the same time, put a lot of distance between her and her smarmy ex-boyfriend Rene (Patrick Bruel).

The love of Lila's life is Jack, her terrier.

So, how does Dylan go about winning her heart? He kidnaps Jack and then spends a lot of time with Lila scouring Los Angeles for the "lost" pooch.

There's a pall that hangs over "Lost and Found," a shadow that grounds the entire experience. And that is the late Chris Farley.

One of Dylan's employees is an oversized, not-too-bright, happy-go-lucky slob named Wally who idolizes his boss to the point that he dyes his hair to match Dylan's and dresses like his mentor.

Wally, as played by Artie Lang, does nothing more than remind you of Farley's absence and how well he and Spade worked together.

Without him, Spade is like a tricycle with a missing wheel. He continually spills.

"Lost and Found" tries very hard to be funny and, honestly, it offers a couple of cute moments, especially that of Spade filling in for Neil Diamond at a swank affair.

But aside from that, "Lost and Found" has little to recommend. Spade is a comedian whose antics can only be tolerated in small doses. And when he tries to act sincere, it's as believable and Bill Clinton swearing he never had sex with that woman.

"Lost and Found" merely wanders aimlessly from sequence to sequence, offering stale jokes and very few punch lines.

Bob Bloom is the film critic at the Journal and Courier in Lafayette, IN. He can be reached by e-mail at bloom@journal-courier.com or at cbloom@iquest.net

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