The Hard R Marathon

The standard Hollywood rags-to-riches saga gets hung out to dry in this lighthearted, fast-paced comic yarn about a publicist who strikes gold by resurrecting the career of a former soft-porn actress. Saul Bronstein is a down-on-his-luck PR man who tries to win back the affections of his philandering wife, Anita, by a coup that would reinvigorate his career. His idea: to sell the L.A. Film Festival on the idea of featuring Lucy Montana, a retired star of ``hard R'' flicks, in its upcoming program. At first, everything goes wrong: the recalcitrant, reclusive Montana blows hot and cold on the idea; Bronstein's deceitful wife remains disinterested in his plans to revitalize their marriage; and initial media interest in Lucy's comeback is tepid at best. But after a fortuitous accident creates a media event that reveals Montana's involvement with a jet-setting millionaire, both publicist and porn star have their choice of lucrative project. Goldsmith (Strange Ailments and Uncertain Cures) has a talent for writing comic scenes, but when Anita divorces Bronstein and his long-anticipated union with Montana is realized, the comedy gives way to a series of mawkish scenes regarding the pair's future together. Mixing love and humor is a delicate juggling act, one that Goldsmith can't quite handle here as his romantic elements come crashing down to earth. (May)