'My Super Ex-Girlfriend': Clumsy, cut-rate except for Uma

Everything about "My Super Ex-Girlfriend" feels clumsy and cut-rate.

Everything, that is, except its star, Uma Thurman. Ever since she began reinventing herself -- first in "Pulp Fiction," then, more compellingly, in the "Kill Bill" movies -- Thurman has become a distinctive screen presence, with an unexpected knack for comedy.

20th Century Fox 'My Super Ex-Girlfriend' C The verdict: Uma's super, the movie isn't. Director: Ivan Reitman Starring: Luke Wilson, Uma Thurman, Anna Faris, Eddie Izzard, Wanda Sykes Run time: 1 hour, 35 minutes Release date: July 21, 2006 Rating: PG-13 for sexual content, crude humor, language and brief nudity. See showtimes Which Wilson Wins? Make a head-to-head comparison of the talents of Owen and Luke Wilson. On the web Official movie site View the trailer    Trailers require Quicktime [an error occurred while processing this directive]

However, "My Super Ex-Girlfriend," directed by Ivan Reitman of "Ghostbusters" fame, almost stops her cold. Almost, but not quite, thanks to the actress' spirited, uncensored performance.

Thurman plays G-Girl, a superhero who can do all that faster-than-a-speeding-bullet, able-to-leap-tall-buildings stuff. As her Clark Kent-ish alter ego, Jenny Johnson, she hides behind unflattering glasses, frumpy clothes and lank brown hair.

It's as Jenny she falls for successful architect Matt Saunders (Luke Wilson), who takes off after the thug who snatched her purse. Part of her attraction to him: She's always helping everyone else, but he's the first guy to try to help her.

Once their relationship is established -- she increasingly neurotic, he increasingly unnerved -- the movie vacillates between a depressingly lame superhero plot featuring Eddie Izzard (looking very Tim Curry-ish) as an Evil Mastermind, and a half-decent romantic comedy with a super-powered spin.

Alas, Reitman directs "My Super Ex-Girlfriend" as if it was 1984 and he was still making "Ghostbusters." Same cheapie special effects, same sloppy moviemaking, same gaggle of New Yorkers staring up at some, well, unusual activity on the Upper West Side. But this time, he doesn't have an inspired, nut-case script to work with and he doesn't have Bill Murray.

Instead, he has a surprisingly lackluster, uneven screenplay by Don Payne ("The Simpsons").

Worse, he has Wilson.

Owen's younger brother may not be the lousiest young-ish actor working in Big Studio pictures these days, but he's almost certainly in the top five. Blandly annoying, Wilson is a black hole at the center of the movie. The role demands someone with a little pizzazz, someone slightly unpredictable, slightly underdogish, yet absolutely lovable. A young Tom Hanks comes to mind. Heck, the current Hanks would do a better job.

Just about everyone in the film is better than Wilson. Not just Thurman, but also Rainn Wilson -- who shrewdly dumps his uber-geek persona from TV's "The Office" in favor of a Vince Vaughn-ish horn dog (his character is even named Vaughn). Ditto lovely Anna Faris ("Lost in Translation") who manages to make an impact in the thankless role of Matt's co-worker and secret crush.

One interesting cultural note: When Jenny is transformed into G-Girl, her brunette hair turns blonde, a clear vote for the notion that not only do blondes have more fun but they're more likely to be able to fly and have X-ray vision.

But Jenny and moviegoers alike should watch out for redheads ...