When the Reaper Is About as Grim as Santa
[size=-1] By JANET MASLIN [/size]
At one point during the not-very-black comedy ''For Roseanna,'' two characters use hair dryers and space heaters to thaw a frozen corpse. The film tries no less desperately to warm hearts. Nominally about the approaching death of a healthy-looking coronary patient named Roseanna (Mercedes Ruehl), this gallows farce actually cares more about the cute scheming of her husband. Marcello (Jean Reno) is the gravedigger in a small Italian village. To guarantee his beloved a space in the crowded local cemetery, he must work overtime to keep all the other townspeople alive. No, this doesn't sound any too funny, but at least it has Mr. Reno doing his best to make it work. In his first English-language comedy (after gloomier English turns in ''The Professional,'' ''Mission: Impossible'' and ''French Kiss''), he recalls Giancarlo Giannini's ability to seem proudly Italian while mugging in the broadest, most all-purpose international fashion. This genial French star tries everything, including rude asides about French people and French cooking, to adapt himself to the film's jokey and obvious tone.
Directed in an ersatz European style by Paul Weiland (whose credits include advertising, children's television, the series ''Mr. Bean'' and ''City Slickers II''), and written with connect-the-gags purposefulness by Saul Turteltaub, the film unfolds in a picturesque Italian village. Many of the citizens speak with spectacularly fake Italian accents, but there are enough pointed references to garlic and oregano to establish authenticity. Marcello and Roseanna run a trattoria, which provides the film with one of its more agreeable settings. A wide-screen look, scenic backdrop and colorfully extroverted cast are among the film's tourist attractions.
Ms. Ruehl seems neither sick nor local, but that suits the escapist mood as well as Mr. Reno's zany scams do. These two manage to make a warmly likable couple even when the story indulges its great big sentimental streak. But ''For Rose anna'' presses its luck too hard with a particularly far-fetched final twist. The feel-good storytelling and sad subtext are hopelessly at odds in the closing scene.
Among the secondary characters breezing through ''For Roseanna'' is Polly Walker as Cecilia, the dying heroine's beautiful sister from Rome. If it's hard to believe Ms. Walker's Roman brogue, it's even harder to buy the notion that Roseanna's dearest and most uncomplicated wish is for her husband and sister to marry each other some day.
A kidnapper, a rich tyrant and a lost fortune also figure in the story, as does Mark Frankel as Cecilia's young suitor. There are enough antic elements here to keep the film dizzy, but its better moments are those that have Mr. Reno trying to prove he can be nonchalantly funny under the most improbable and even grim conditions. One of the film's ruder comic bits even finds him and a doctor arguing over a man on a respirator. They wave and holler as they fight about whether to pull the plug.
''For Roseanna'' is rated PG (Parental guidance suggested). It includes sexual references and mild profanity.
FOR ROSEANNA
Directed by Paul Weiland; written by Saul Turteltaub; director of photography, Henry Braham; edited by Martin Walsh; music by Trevor Jones; production designer, Rod McLean; produced by Paul Trijbits, Alison Owen and Dario Poloni; released by Fine Line Features. Running time: 99 minutes. This film is rated PG-13.
WITH: Jean Reno (Marcello), Mercedes Ruehl (Roseanna), Polly Walker (Cecilia), Mark Frankel (Antonio) and Giuseppe Cederna (Father Bramilla).
