THE BROTHERS BLOOM

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Newbie director Rian Johnson ("Brick") fumbles his self-penned sophomore effort with an incongruously toned con story that is a chore to sit through.

A thoroughly amateurish opening sequence, full of stale voice-over narration, introduces orphan childhood versions of budding conmen brothers Bloom and Stephen, who hatch a scheme with a local laundry man to dirty the dresses of their female "bourgeoisie" classmates.

Cut to modern times when the brothers (played by Adrien Brody and Mark Ruffalo) dress like Charlie Chaplin knock-offs aiming to bilk Penelope (Rachel Weisz), a filthy rich East Coast heiress with a knack for playing stringed instruments and juggling chainsaws.

Further evidence that Rian Johnson is enrolled in the Wes Anderson school of comedy comes with the introduction of the brother's non-English-speaking assistant Bang Bang (Rinko Kikuchi).

The laws of diminishing returns take effect as the globe-trotting quartet hit ports from Montenegro to Russia while scheming and out-scheming each other.

Acting students will get a kick out of seeing Rachel Weisz give textbook meaning to "breaking character."  

Rated PG-13. 109 mins.