Anne of Hollywood

While Wolper's latest (after Mr. Famous) is touted as a reinterpretation of the love affair between King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, her characters get transported from 16th century England to modern day Hollywood with very little reinvention. Even Henry Tudor's title remains the same%E2%80%94the entire cast refers to the Hollywood it-boy and business mogul as "the king." In response to familial pressure and an attempt to elevate the Boleyns' social status, Anne seduces Henry and amasses a troupe of enemies along the way, including Theresa Cromwell, a jealous Tudor business group exec, and Carl Wolsey, a banker eventually laid low by inappropriate relations and shady business dealings. When Anne gets pregnant, she jumps at the opportunity to wed Henry and stabilize their relationship. However, Anne's handle on the situation begins to falter as she struggles to quell suspicions that Henry is cheating and maintain the upper-hand in dealings with vengeful Theresa. The characters' motivations are entrenched in the mentality of 16th century England, making their choices reek of a desperation that does not translate successfully to the 21st century. Even with allegations of incest between Anne and her brother George, Catherine's accidental overdose, and gossip-monger Cliff's opportunistic machinations in the Hollywood rumor mill, the story lacks intrigue and a clear-cut narrative progression. (Jan.)