Rosie (Pfeiffer) is a 40-ish TV producer raising her bright 12-year-old daughter Izzie (Ronan) with a little help from her obnoxious ex-husband (Lovitz). The show she's producing is a brainless teen comedy starring a diva actress (Dash), and Rosie decides to bring in a new character to spice things up. Enter 30-ish actor Adam (Rudd), who wins a teen role and also catches the eye of the boss. But Rosie is nervous about entering a relationship with a guy this young, just as Izzie is coping with her impending womanhood.

Mainly shot in London, the movie at least looks nothing like most Hollywood productions. This unusual tone, combined with a crazy structure and some rather insightful female themes, keeps us interested. A few gimmicks don't really work (such as Ullman's interloping Mother Nature), but the vivid fringe casting of British comics like Mitchell and Norton, plus comic geniuses like Willard and Lovitz, gives the film a jagged sense of humour that continually catches us off guard. There are also cameos from comic veterans including Mackenzie Crook, Wallace Shawn, Henry Winkler and Sally Kellerman.

In the central roles, Pfeiffer and Rudd are utterly charming; their fresh faces help them get away with fudging their ages rather steeply, but their relationship feels genuine. Even so, the film is stolen from under them by rising-star Ronan, who turns Izzie into one of the best pre-teens in movie memory--sassy, smart and talented (she sings!), but also fragile and introspective. She and Pfeiffer have the best chemistry in the film, which is actually as it should be.

That said, the whole thing gets extremely corny as it progresses, with an almost naive depiction of sexuality both in teens and adults. The plot is simplistic and goofy, although the cast is strong enough to keep us thoroughly entertained. And they also help bring out some strongly engaging undercurrents, mainly the paralysing insecurity most of the characters are trying to overcome in their lives and relationships.

themes, language, innuendo

13.Dec.07