Hurlyburly MPAA Rating: R Entertainment: +2 Content: -3

Based on an off-Broadway play, HURLYBURLY is one man's somewhat existential escape from and search for meaning in life's actions. Eddie (Sean Penn) is a Hollywood talent agent partnered with Mickey (Kevin Spacey). Eddie meets a special woman for him named Darlene (Robin Wright Penn). But she's also had an affair with Mickey. When his on and off relationship with his wife is on the rocks, Phil (Chazz Palminteri) stays with Eddie. Phil is dim-witted in some ways and doesn't understand why his marriage is falling apart. Artie (Gary Shandling), another of Eddie's friends, is strickly there for good times. Meg Ryan makes a brief appearance as Bonnie, a sexually loose friend of Eddie's he tries to set up with Phil. When Phil commits suicide, Eddie's world crumbles as he seeks for meaning in Phil's last letter to him.

A rambling, wordy character study, HURLYBURLY may attract attention for the stars, but lack of plot or goal will make for a low box office turn out. Very little redeeming features can be found in the characters. Eddie is almost constantly snorting cocaine or smoking marijuana. His friends frequently join him in recreational drugs. Artie picks up a teenager (Anna Paquin) and offers her to Eddie sexually. She complies in exchange for a place to stay. Sex is implied several times by various couples in bed, with and without graphic motions and sounds. Any nudity is obscured although brief partial male rear nudity occurs as Eddie walks to the bathroom with his pants down. His shirttail covers most of his backside. The dialogue is swamped by foul language including more than a hundred f- and s-words and 40 profanities. Inappropriate language, sexual content and excessive drug use make HURLY BURLY one to avoid.

Preview Reviewer: Paul Bicking
Distributor: Fineline Features, 888 7th Ave., 20th Floor, NY,NY 10106