The Hot Chick

Rob Schneider's new lowbrow body-swap romp is an insipidly sexist so-called comedy in which the entire female cast is reduced to jumping up and down, giggling, and playing patty-cake while rhyming about the icky-ness of sex. These characters don't have a brain cell to share among them, but Schneider (who plays an idiot too, but what else is new?) and director Tom Brady genuinely expect us to identify with catty queen ditz Jessica (Rachel McAdams), who, through a curse not worth explaining here, wakes up in the short, hairy, burlap-sack body of a scummy, gas station-robbing lowlife (Schneider) just a few days before the prom. Schneider bounces around with limp wrists, wearing tight tummy tops and hip huggers, twirling his hair on his finger and assuming that's enough to sustain laughs for the length of the movie. Meanwhile he--I mean she--and her posse of puerile girlfriends (lead by Anna Faris, Scary Movie) have sleepovers and makeovers during their quest for a way to break the curse. Trust me, this is exactly as engaging as it sounds. Not recommended. [Note: DVD extras include audio commentary by director Tom Brady; 15 deleted scenes (including an alternate ending); the production featurettes “Becoming Jessica” (9 min.), “Becoming Clive” (5 min.), “The Hot Chicks” (8 min.), “Guest Speakers” (about cameo appearances; 11 min.) and “Physical Education” (on stunts; 9 min.); and the music video “Starlight” by Zed (and featuring Rob Schneider). Bottom line: lots of extras, not much (worthwhile) film.] (R. Blackwelder)