Casanova

Who's in It: Heath Ledger, Sienna Miller, Jeremy Irons, Oliver Platt, Lena Olin

The Basics: When major stud Jack Tripper moves in with Janet and Chrissy, the sexy antics begin. But Jack has to tone down his lady-killing ways and pretend to be someone he's not so he can be close to the women in his life. Then the Vatican sentences him to be hanged until he's dead. Oops! How will Jack wriggle his way out of this one?

What's the Deal? If nothing else, this movie is momentary relief from all the heavy-bummer Oscar movies that are out at this time of year. That doesn't mean it's good — or even all that funny — just that it's not three hours long and self-important. It's also safer than cookies and milk, as the legendary lover (Ledger) gets tamed by a liberated woman (Miller). Otherwise, he'd have to be punished with syphilis like Johnny Depp in The Libertine.

Percentage of Wacky Chase Sequences: 65; Casanova is always on the run from the Catholic Church and cuckolded husbands and, well, basically everyone who can't stand the fact that he gets so much action. There's even an ending that wants to be an 18th-century What's Up Doc?, with the entire cast running around like lunatics.

Percentage of Lust: 5; it's called Casanova, not My Dog Skip. It's supposed to be about a guy who can't keep it in his pants. It's supposed to be bawdy and full of wenching or whatever they called it then. If you knew nothing about Casanova, you'd think that he was a kissing bandit and little else. The whole movie needs a Viagra.

They Made Out While Lying Down; Give It an R: There's very little exposed flesh and a solitary scene, also tastefully covered up, suggesting that some group sex is happening. The MPAA must have accidentally watched the Paris Hilton tape instead of this movie.