![[box cover]](../reviewimgs/s/splendor.jpg)
Splendor
Indie darling Gregg Araki has somehow gained comparison with French innovator Jean-Luc Godard, but with his anemic romantic comedy Splendor, Araki bears closer resemblance to anonymous hack Alan Smithee. Insignificant TV actress Kathleen Robinson stars as a selfish, irresponsible emotional sociopath who can't choose between alpha-hunk Zed (Matt Keeslar) or beta-artist Abel (Jonathan Schaech), so she manipulates them into an unhealthy, unsatisfying threesome, but when the inevitable trouble arises, she jets to wreak emotional chaos on more unwitting stooges. In Araki's view, this is the stuff of screwball comedy, but it's really a sad comment on the pathetic romanticizing of truly destructive "alternative" lifestyles. Araki's wit is as fresh and funny as year-old bread, nor does it help that every character is as grating an amalgam of hipster clichés as can be imagined. Presented in 1.85:1 widescreen and both DD 5.1 and Dolby Surround 2.0. Trailer, keep case.
