Dunston Checks In MPAA Rating: PG Entertainment: +3 Content: -1/2

Robert Grant (Jason Alexander) is manager of the elegant Majestic Hotel in New York City and has plenty of experience in handling crises. But the visit of Dunston, a 5 year old orangutan monkey, turns out to be the biggest challenge of all. And the unreasonable demands of the hotel owner (Faye Dunaway) don't help any either. Dunston doesn't arrive with a fanfare, but is brought in secretly by a jewel thief (Rupert Everett) to help him steal jewels from wealthy hotel guests. And Dunston is doing very well until the Grant's young son, Kyle (Eric Lloyd) discovers him and Dunston leads him on a merry chase. In the process, Dunston romps through laundry chutes, spanks a lady in the massage room, trashes the royal suite, and almost destroys a prestigious social gathering in the hotel. Even so, Dunston is a lovable, comical monkey and all the children will go for him and his outlandish antics. Older folks will probably get a kick out of him too. He's a great actor and some are already speculating that he will be back in other films.

20th Century Fox probably planned to make DUNSTON CHECKS IN a family friendly film, but they get side tracked several times. However, Grant's relationship with his two sons, Kyle and Brian, is very loving and he is trying to be the best single dad he can since his wife died. Both Kyle and Brian respect and love their dad, although they are just as mischievous as Dunston. Unfortunately, the film producers insisted on inserting several sexually suggestive incidents including a scene where Dunston gives a massage and spanking to a lady in the health spa with sexual overtones. In other scenes, an older lady propositions a man and, at an elegant banquet, Dunston and a man crawl around under some tables comically pulling up the skirts of some of the women. Further, the dialogue contains two obscenities and three mild crude words. Lots of slapstick fighting, striking and other rowdy behavior is present, but is not excessive or severe. To a large extent, DUNSTON CHECKS IN is family friendly, but has enough questionable elements to prevent a whole hearted recommendation.

Preview Reviewer: John Evans
Distributor: 20th Century Fox Film Corp., 10201 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036