Wicked

Blonde and beautiful, yes, but...wicked? Julia Stiles (Save the Last Dance) stars as Ellie, an unhappy suburban teen whose mother is having an affair with the next door neighbor. When mommy dearest is brutally killed, a deadpan detective played by Michael Parks suspects the sleazy philanderer. Not one to mourn, dad soon takes up with the family au pair while Ellie puts on her mother's clothes and makeup, vying for her father's attention. With its intimations of incest, this less-than-tepid little thriller is just the kind of film to provide fodder for senatorial watchdogs like Joseph Lieberman who decry the marketing of seamy R-rated films to teenagers. Not recommended. (T. Rich)