Good Advice

Shifty stockbroker Ryan (Charlie Sheen) gets caught up in his own web of deceit when the executive he's trying to gather insider info from hoodwinks Ryan for fooling around with his wife. After losing mountains of money (both from his personal funds and for his clients), the freshly unemployed Ryan turns to his girlfriend, advice columnist Cindy (Sheen's real-life wife Denise Richards) for aid. At odds with her publisher (Angie Harmon), and tired of waiting for Ryan to lead her to the altar, Cindy suddenly runs away with a Brazilian hunk--without informing her boss. Seeing an economic opportunity, Ryan claims that Cindy is ill, and goes to the newspaper office to collect her mail and  checks, while surreptitiously taking over Cindy's column. From this admittedly clever setup, the story revolves around the escapades ensuing from Ryan's somewhat offbeat responses to reader's letters as "Cindy" and the consequences of the real Cindy's return from South America. Boasting plenty of humor, especially in scenes featuring Jon Lovitz and Rosanna Arquette as a squabbling couple (and friends of Ryan and Cindy, respectively), Good Advice is a lighthearted, entertaining, if occasionally improbable, romp. Recommended. (J. Williams)