Who needs fancy-pants computers when you have latex and mirrors?:"F/X"

This is what happens in February. While the theaters are full of crap, your intrepid blogger finds himself watching holdovers from the '80s. But let's not dwell on that.

Let us, instead, recognize the brilliance of Brian Dennehy.

Not sure when I first saw this barrel-chested bad man on screen. I know it was before "Cocoon," and maybe it was "Foul Play." Of course, for many he'll always be the sheriff who gives John Rambo a hard time in "First Blood." I, however, tend to favor his turn as another sheriff, "Silverado," where he plays slimy as well as dangerous.

Before the '90s brought a series of subpar movies -- ultimately leading to him playing Bobby Knight in an ESPN movie a few years ago -- the '80s were good to Dennehy, and I'll always confess a soft spot for the big bear. That, more than another Bryan (Brown), is why I'll check out "F/X" every now and then.

Our story has Brown -- two years before playing an advice-spouting bartender in "Cocktail" -- as a special effects expert hired to stage the murder of a wiseguy-turned-witness. That way, you see, the mob will think he's dead and leave him alone until -- surprise! -- he shows up at the trial. All goes fine ... well, except for Brown actually killing the guy. Or does he?

Enter Dennehy, a cop who helped put away the mob guy and now wants to investigate his apparent murder. As he does so, Brown is on the run, trying to find out what the heck happened and trying to stay alive while the feds hope to whack him, too.

A fair amount of this movie is annoying. Brown's dialogue is stilted much of time -- so much that it seems dubbed. His assistant is even worse, with the young blonde woman seemingly reading from cue cards. Also, I have a hard time believing that someone trying to stay undercover would drive a big cargo van with "F/X" painted on the side all over New York. I don't care if you do have your dye packs and smoke bombs in there, buddy. Go rent a Taurus. (Sure, Ford may not have made the Taurus in 1986, but it still sounds good.)

That said, this is a decently amusing story, and joining Dennehy are a few other members of the "That Guy" club: a pre-"Law & Order" Jerry Orbach, Cliff de Young and even Nathan Arizona himself, Trey Wilson. (Don't forget Wilson's other big role, either, you lollygaggers. Did you know he died back in 1989? I didn't. That's a shame.) All in all, passable entertainment for these trying post-holiday, pre-summer movie times. It's either that or "Hoodwinked," friends.