Paparazzi

Bo Laramie (Cole Hauser) is a hot-property hunk who has "arrived" as the latest in-demand actor in Hollywood. (Yet he's starring in films with pulpy titles such as "Adrenaline Rush"; in some ways, Hauser seems to be playing a version of his father, 1980s straight-to-video mainstay Wings Hauser.) Laramie appears to have the perfect life: fame, fortune, a gorgeous wife (Robin Tunney) and adorable son (Blake Bryan). But when photographers print false stories about his family, chase him down and run him into a tragic car accident (which resembles the Princes Diana crash), Laramie takes matters into his own hands.

Forrest Smith's simplistic script, in the hands of first-time director Paul Abascal (producer Mel Gibson's former hairdresser), has Laramie orchestrating the deaths of each member of the culpable paparazzi crew and setting up a final showdown with lead paparazzo Rex Harper (Tim Sizemore, who's never been nastier).

Abascal shoots the film with a relentlessness that gives the action sequences a calculated effectiveness. And the movie is filled with celebrity cameos and stunt casting. But this clunky revenge thriller seems to have a target audience of Alec Baldwin, Sean Penn and Arnold Schwarzenegger--and that group could prove to be too miniscule to generate many ticket sales for this late-summer release. Starring Cole Hauser, Robin Tunney, Dennis Farina and Tom Sizemore. Directed by Paul Abascal. Written by Forrest Smith. Produced by Bruce Davey, Mel Gibson and Stephen McEveety. A Fox release. Drama/Thriller. Rated PG-13 for intense violent sequences, sexual content and language. Running time: 84 min