MOVIES

SHAMUS

(Columbia)

If Shamus isn’t a satire, it should be. But then again, if it were consciously satirical, it wouldn’t be half as funny or ridiculous. Burt Reynolds plays Mac McCoy, a poolplaying private “I,” clad in traditional trenchcoat, chasing around, being chased — every trite action-flic cliche packed into a predictable series of events. And it works.

Perhaps the seeming overdose of necessary interesting elements for this family show (PG for pretty good?) is an ironic accident. The Marlowesque messy, smart-ass detective, currently a big hero, in reaction to the super-slick, Mannixtype cool cops, is portrayed for once as a sloppy yet sophisticated shamus. While Reynolds skillfully knocks off a dozen pursuers, all miraculously escaping death, of course, he mugs, hams and jokes like one of his talk show performances. He just doesn’t take the role or himself seriously. And the sub-plot, darling bUt dumb Dyan Cannon, laughs heartily.