Demi Worst Part Of Funny ‘Strip’

“Striptease” has a hilarious plot, dozens of memorable one-liners and one of the funniest supporting casts of all time. One small problem though: No one told the lead actress the movie was a comedy.

In significant roles, “Striptease” showcases Ving Rhames as Shad, a bouncer at a strip club, Burt Reynolds as David Dilbeck, a sleazy congressmen in love with one of the strippers, and Armand Assante as Garcia, a homicide cop who gets unwillingly dragged into the story.

Oh, and there’s Demi Moore as Erin Grant, the stripper who the plot revolves around.

So, why did I mention the $12 million actress last? Because she was the worst of the four, hands down. It becomes evident not too far in the film that Moore was not given this role for her acting - the cameras often focus on her other assets.

And it’s probably a good thing. Moore obviously does not get the gist of this film. “Striptease” is most easily defined as a first rate “B” movie - made for the enjoyment of the audience, not the enjoyment of the revered Academy.

Moore’s character is spending the entire movie working as a stripper to get her daughter back from a criminal ex-husband, and she treats the film more as a CBS docu-drama than the comedy which it is.

Ving Rhames, sharing the screen with Moore as much as anyone else, steals any spotlight she might have. Coming off his excellent supporting turns in “Pulp Fiction” and “Mission: Impossible,” Rhames continues his tradition as a surprising but successful source of humor.

Burt Reynolds also does his part to refocus the camera’s attention from Moore. With his innocent, whiny congressman’s southern accent, he is truly believable in his role as a sleazeball who everyone still votes for. He plays a brilliant caricature of the real-life scums, er, excuse me.. congressmen we know well.

Assante plays a homicide cop who eventually gets dragged into the film. Despite the fact that he is married, he and Moore manage some sparks that, humorous in themselves, end up giving Moore a little substance.

But, amazingly, the great acting doesn’t end here. Smaller-name actors playing Erin’s ex-husband, the owner of the strip club, Erin’s daughter, and other strippers give the movie constant humor, even when Moore is cluttering the screen.

There is one man, however, who was not treated too well by “Striptease.” That man is Carl Hiassen, the author of the book this film is based on. I would recommend the book high above the movie - the book has content, and all the humor of the movie adaptation. It is too bad for Hiassen this had to be his introduction into big-screen adaptations.

All in all, “Striptease” was a fun movie to watch. As expected, there was absolutely no worth to it - nothing you’ll remember a week after you see it. It is rather obvious Demi Moore was not worth her pay, but equally obvious that Rhames and Reynolds were - a saving grace to match any.

Grade: B-