January 17, 2003 -- "Igby Goes Down" is a story that you might be able to relate to if your father was crazy, women find you irresistible, you've got tons of money and your entire family is dysfunctional. Otherwise, probably you will find the story as dull as dust, despite all the colorful characters and good performances. The story, about a poor little rich boy misfit, has been done quite a few times before, notably in films like "Harold and Maud," and "Rushmore," but those were much better films than this weak effort.

Igby (played by Kieran Culkin of "The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys") is from a wealthy family. He's been shuttled from one private school to another, but he doesn't fit in. He keeps running away. His father, Jason (Bill Pullman of "Zero Effect") is a nut case confined to an institution, and his godfather, D.H. (Jeff Goldblum of "Independence Day") is a rich, corrupt oddball. His mother, Mimi (Susan Sarandon of "Moonlight Mile") is disconnected. Igby floats along in this wealth vacuum, disconnected from the real world. He is angry and afraid he might end up like his dad, and he is headed in that direction. The big trouble with Igby as a character is that he has all the personality of dental plaque. Even his older brother, Oliver (played by the bland Ryan Phillippe of "Gosford Park") seems more interesting.

Igby enters into a doomed relationship with his godfather's self-destructive mistress, Rachel (Amanda Peet of "Changing Lanes") and runs around with another rudderless friend, Sookie (Claire Danes of "Romeo and Juliet"). Another fringe character is Russel (Jared Harris of "Happiness") a fallen performance artist who deals drugs to get by. He is one of a number of people, including Igby, aimlessly hanging around Rachel's loft, trying to escape the real world. Of course, the real world has a way of finding people who are trying to hide from it. Igby has his share of pain and sorrow during his "Catcher in the Rye" scene, but that seems to be fleeting.

There are some excellent acting performances in the film, highlighted by Peet, Harris, Danes and Culkin. Peet (a very underrated actress), in particular, is more of a living, feeling character than the others. She has one shattering scene with Goldblum which has a believable emotional impact. She at least seems to care a little bit about the feelings of other people. Acting is not the problem with the film, the script is. It is more like a series of unrelated vignettes than a cohesive story. There is also not much character development. Many of the characters seem somewhat unresponsive to other characters and the environment, as if each character is an island unto himself. A collection of such self-absorbed characters limits the opportunities for effective ensemble acting. This is typical Hollywood pap that passes for "art" these days. This film rates a C.

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