A look inside Hollywood and the movies. : CITYSCAPE : This Movie’s Title Might Say It All

From the bad-timing department comes this scene from the Eddie Murphy movie “Boomerang:”

The scene in question involves two of the film’s co-stars, David Alan Grier and Halle Berry. As Grier is leaving Berry’s apartment after a date, he begins spouting comic goodbys in several different languages. After several moments, Berry says something in Korean and then translates the phrase for Grier’s benefit: “That means I’m sorry I shot you,” she says, “but I thought you were robbing the store.”

The reference is to the March, 1991, incident involving grocer Soon Ja Du, who fatally shot 15-year-old Latasha Harlins after a fight that started when Du accused Harlins of shoplifting from her market in South-Central Los Angeles. The case ignited a furor, and emotions boiled over when the merchant was convicted of voluntary manslaughter, and not sentenced to jail.

One theater exhibitor, who has seen the film and asked not to be identified, said “it’s definitely offensive, especially with what’s been going on in this city. It could have been taken out of the film, and you wouldn’t have missed it.” But, he said, “there’s also some white-bashing, too.”

“If it’s true, it’s unfortunate,” says T.S. Chung of the Korean-American Bar Assn., who hasn’t seen the film. Chung says that the Korean-American Coalition has taken action in the past against other films, including the negative portrayal of a Korean in John Hughes’ “Sixteen Candles” and Korean-bashing lyrics on one of rapper Ice Cube’s albums. Of “Boomerang,” Chung said, “We’re going to have to see the movie first.” The film is scheduled to open July 1.

According to a Paramount spokesman, it’s a non-issue. “We believe that in context, this remark is simply part of a good-humored comedic exchange between two characters and that audiences will see it as much,” he said.