VIDEO RENTALS : ‘Dick Tracy’ Can’t Stop ‘RoboCop’

The ultra-violent “RoboCop 2” muscled “Dick Tracy” out of the No. 1 spot on the Billboard magazine rental chart. “Tracy,” which came out last month and was expected to be a long-term rental blockbuster, slipped to No. 2. “Young Guns II” powered its way from No. 39 to No. 11. “The Adventures of Ford Fairlane,” starring Andrew Dice Clay, the comedian who’s high on the hate list of women and many minorities, continues to do surprisingly good business, jumping from No. 10 to No. 6. This film wasn’t even supposed to make the Top 10 because of all the negatives--including bad reviews and the fact that it’s too tame for Clay’s hard-core fans. Its big plus: It’s a new comedy at a time when there aren’t many other new ones available and people are looking for a break from the grim war news. “The Freshman,” starring Matthew Broderick and Marlon Brando, debuted at No. 36 but should take a big jump next week.

Ranking Weeks Ranking 2 Weeks On Rental Top Rentals Last Week Ago Chart 1. “RoboCop 2” (Orion) 2 2 5 2. “Dick Tracy” (Touchstone) 1 1 5 3. “Another 48 HRS.” (Paramount) 3 3 10 4. “My Blue Heaven” (Warner) 5 11 4 5. “Bird on a Wire” (MCA/Universal) 4 4 10 “Mo’ Better Blues” (MCA/Universal) ... ... 1

* Spike Lee’s “Mo’ Better Blues,” a thinly plotted tale of a jazz musician (Denzel Washington), did fair box-office business--$15.8 million. Though it doesn’t pack a wallop like Lee’s “Do the Right Thing,” it’s expected to at least crack the rental Top 10.