UNTRAINED AMIGOS

Upon Patrick Goldstein’s recommendation I saw “Three Amigos” and I strongly disagree (“Rib-Tickling Corn in ‘Three Amigos,’ ” Dec. 12).

While there are a few funny bits, the movie suffers from the same flaws as most made by the “Saturday Night Live” crowd. There is only a trace of story and virtually no character development. The problem, I think, is that Chase, Martin and Short are comedians. They are neither trained actors nor trained writers.

Further, numerous setups were lifted right from the Three Stooges (there’s a Stooges short where the boys try to break into a Hollywood studio, among others). To say it’s a cross between the Stooges and a Hope-Crosby road picture is too kind. Finally, I’m surprised that Goldstein didn’t mention “Romancing the Stone,” from which an entire segment is virtually lifted intact.

JAMES BRACHMAN

Signal Hill