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Exclusive: Danny DeVito, Lucy DeVito, and Jake DeVito’s film and production company Jersey Films 2nd Avenue are rolling the cameras on the thriller comedy feature Drag which stars 2x Primetime Emmy nominee Lizzy Caplan, Lucy DeVito, John Stamos, and Christine Ko.

Raviv Ullman and Greg Yagolnitzer are writing and directing in what reps the pair’s feature film directorial debuts. Danny DeVito, Lucy DeVito, and Jake DeVito are producing.

In Drag, a routine robbery at a rural house turns into a nightmare for two amateur burglars when one of them throws their back out. Things spiral out of control as they try to make it out before the homeowner returns.

“As soon as we read Raviv & Greg’s script, we knew we wanted to make this film,” said the DeVitos.

Aly Michalka is clearing up some rumors about her love life.

During an appearance with sister Aj Michalka on Alex Cooper‘s podcast Call Her Daddy, Aly, 35, responded to rumors and speculation that she secretly dated her Phil of the Future co-star Raviv Ullman.

Keep reading to find out more…“No, no. That’s funny,” Aly said. “Is this like a thing online?”

Aj, then 33, then chimed in, saying, “Literally can attest: never even kissed.”

Aly went on to say that absolutely nothing romantic happened between her and Raviv, 38, who went by “Ricky Ullman” while filming the Disney Channel show from 2004 to 2006.

Instead, Aly said they “always had a friendship,” especially since Raviv was older than her.

“That age range felt huge,” Aly explained. “I was 13 and I think he was 16.”

However, the singer admitted that she had a small crush on Raviv back in the day.

“I remember during the test,...

The Jim Henson Company, the company behind Fraggle Rock and Farscape, is in the process of developing a new kids television series called Paul the Bear with Julia Pott and former Disney Channel star Raviv Ullman, best known for his role as Phil Diffy in Phil of the Future. Per The Hollywood Reporter, the new series will be a live-action show.

Paul the Bear is the story of a recently retired brown bear who is trying to get in touch with himself and his community. The show is in the process of being introduced to interested buyers at MIPCOM, an annual trade show for the TV industry that is held in Cannes, France.

Related A Forgotten Muppets Crossover Failed to Honor a Beloved Disney Attraction

The Muppets have had many iconic crossovers, but one never quite managed to capture the fun of a beloved Disney attraction.

The Show Will Have...

The Jim Henson Company, the puppet-based production house behind Fraggle Rock and Farscape, is partnering with Summer Camp Island creator Julia Pott and former Disney Star Raviv Ullman on Paul The Bear, a new kids series.

The live-action series about a recently retired brown bear getting in touch with himself and his community is being introduced to buyers at MIPCOM. Paul The Bear is created and showrun by Pott, a British animator and illustrator based in Los Angeles, and Ullman, best known for playing Phil Diffy, the main character in Disney’s Phil of the Future series.

The series is also produced by The Jim Henson Company, with Lisa Henson and Halle Stanford serving as executive producers along with Pott and Ullman. Paul The Bear, set in an English seaside town, will include a cast of real people and puppet animals and feature a nonverbal lead.

The logline for the...

Brenda Song has been working in the entertainment industry almost her entire life. She got her start as a childrens model in catalogs and work in commercials and television soon followed. Song and her mother moved to Los Angeles when she was just six so that Song could pursue her dreams. Her big break, however, might actually be seen as a short film instead of some of the TV projects she was in as a child.

Actress and director Elizabeth Sung was casting her short film Requiem in the mid 90s when she decided to cast Song as the younger version of one of the characters. Sung cast her in another short a few years later and has sung her praises ever since, calling her focused even from a young age (via Mochi Magazine). Contract work with the Disney Channel soon followed, and now, Brenda Song is one of the...

Phil of the Future cast members reunite 17 years after the Disney Channel show ended in an Instagram post. The cast has expressed interest in a possible reboot, but there are no official plans yet. The recent reunion of the cast could potentially spark interest in a reboot.

Phil of the Future cast members reunite 17 years after the Disney Channel show ended. Aired from 2004 to 2006, the short-lived but beloved Disney Channel sitcom followed a time-traveling family who, while on a vacation from the year 2121, become stranded in 2004 and must try desperately to fit in. The Phil of the Future cast includes Raviv Ullman as Phil, Amy Bruckner as his younger sister Pim, and Alyson Michalka as his best friend turned girlfriend Keely.

Now, 17 years after the Disney Channel show ended, the Phil of the Future cast has reunited in an Instagram post from Aly Michalka.

View this post on Instagram A...

Disney Channel junkies, prepare to be transported to a time way, way, way back in the day.

Several stars from the network’s beloved (but criminally short-lived!) sitcom Phil of the Future are together again in a batch of reunion photos that’s guaranteed to put a smile on the face of any rapidly aging millennial.

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Click here to read the full article.

Mike Birbiglia can definitely draw a crowd.

The Mark Taper Forum in downtown Los Angeles hosted a star-studded pool party Wednesday for the opening night of Birbiglia’s latest one-man show, The Old Man and the Pool. Ewan McGregor (with daughter Clara), Jack Black, Jimmy Kimmel, Nick Kroll, Alison Brie, Zooey Deschanel with Jonathan Scott, Rachel Bloom, Pixar chief Pete Docter, celebrity chef David Chang, comedian Pete Holmes, writer, producer and stand-up Neal Brennan, Kristen Schaal, Jason Nash, Peter Paige, Kate Micucci, Michaela Watkins, Larry Wilmore, Taylor Tomlinson, Raviv Ullman, Sam Daly and Riki Lindhome were among the stars spotted by The Hollywood Reporter.

The showing was the latest tour stop for Birbiglia’s Old Man and the Pool and brought him back to Center Theater Group, where he last performed his Broadway hit The New One on Ctg’s Ahmanson stage. The...

He may be Phil of the Future, but we're here to provide you with a blast from the past. Picture this: It's 2004 and you just got home from a long day of school. You throw your backpack and Lisa Frank notebook to the side, sit down on the couch, turn on the TV and Phil of the Future is on. Life is good.  Well, get ready for a serotonin surge once more, because E! News exclusively caught up with the Og Disney Channel heartthrob himself, Raviv Ullman. Raviv, formerly known as Ricky, first entered our hearts back when he starred on Phil of the Future. He played Phil Diffy, a 15-year-old from 2121 who gets trapped...

Only true Disney Channel fans will remember the early 2000s comedy Phil Of The Future. The show's timelessness only exists because of how well the cast performed in their roles throughout the short two-season show.

Related: 10 Actors Who Got Their Start In Disney Channel Original Movies

Many, if not all dedicated fans, agree, even to this day, that the sitcom should have continued for at least one more season. The underrated star of the show, Raviv Ullman, credited as Ricky Ullman at the time, caught his big break when he was cast for this Disney show. It truly had so much potential, but alas, since viewers didn't get anything after season two, they still caught sight of several members of the main cast, and the guest-starring cast, in future films and shows. Leave it to Disney to offer recurring roles to their future, big-time stars.

Bless you, Disney+. Sure, we're excited about Star Wars and Marvel and all that, but the real joy we've found so far is in reliving the Disney Channel shows of our youth.  We were especially thrilled to discover that Phil of the Future is now something we can watch anytime we want, which we were alerted to by the Instagram stories of star Raviv Ullman (originally credited as Ricky Ullman), who is now a photographer as well as an actor.  "I know it's too early for this, but because I'm sitting in an airport and in honor of Phil streaming on Disney Plus starting today, I'll answer whatever questions you got," Ullman wrote.  He then answered quite a few questions about...

Well, it's finally the future, and Phil and Keeley have definitely grown up! Raviv Ullman, Aly Michalka and Aj Michalka had a long awaited reunion last night during a celebration for Amo Ferragamo, Salvatore Ferragamo's new fragrance. Raviv expressed his love for the sisters with an Instagram post. His caption reads, "Big [heart emoji] for these two ol pals and the great music they're making. They've grown way taller and cooler than I. At least we're all equally pink." From 2004 to 2006, Raviv and Aly co-starred on Disney Channel's Phil of the Future as Phil and Keeley. Aj was also involved in the show's production—the Michalka sisters, otherwise known as the...

Geffen Playhouse welcomesAri Brand Broadway The Neil Simon Plays Off-Broadway My Name is Asher Lev, Molly Ephraim ABC's Last Man Standing, Broadway Into the Woods, Fiddler on the Roof film Paranormal Activity, Lili Fuller Hulu's Complete Works and Raviv Ullman Off-Broadway Sticks and Bones, title character in Disney's Phil of the Future as the cast for its West Coast premiere production of Bad Jews by Joshua Harmon, directed by Matt Shakman, who is the artistic director of the Black Dahlia Theatre, a Geffen playhouse alumni Good People, Wait Until Dark and a noted television director It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Mad Men.

Geffen Playhouse announces Ari Brand Broadway The Neil Simon Plays Off-Broadway My Name is Asher Lev, Molly Ephraim ABC's Last Man Standing, Broadway Into the Woods, Fiddler on the Roof film Paranormal Activity, Lili Fuller Hulu's Complete Works and Raviv Ullman Off-Broadway Sticks and Bones, title character in Disney's Phil of the Future as the cast for its West Coast premiere production of Bad Jews by Joshua Harmon, directed by Matt Shakman, who is the artistic director of the Black Dahlia Theatre, a Geffen playhouse alumni Good People, Wait Until Dark and a noted television director It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Mad Men.

David Rabe's Sticks and Bones launches The New Group's 20th Anniversary Season. Directed by Scott Elliott, this production features Richard Chamberlain, Nadia Gan, Holly Hunter, Morocco Omari, Bill Pullman, Ben Schnetzer and Raviv Ullman. A limited Off-Broadway engagement plays through December 14 at The New Group at The Pershing Square Signature Center 480 West 42nd Street. BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was there for opening night and you can check out interviews with the whole gang below...

David Rabe's Sticks and Bones launches The New Group's 20th Anniversary Season. Directed by Scott Elliott, this production features Richard Chamberlain, Nadia Gan, Holly Hunter, Morocco Omari, Bill Pullman, Ben Schnetzer and Raviv Ullman. A limited Off-Broadway engagement plays through December 14 at The New Group at The Pershing Square Signature Center 480 West 42nd Street. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from opening night below...

David Rabe's Sticks and Bones launches The New Group's 20th Anniversary Season. Directed by Scott Elliott, this production features Richard Chamberlain, Nadia Gan, Holly Hunter, Morocco Omari, Bill Pullman, Ben Schnetzer and Raviv Ullman. Previews began on October 21 in advance of an Official Opening Night tonight, November 6. A limited Off-Broadway engagement plays through December 14 at The New Group at The Pershing Square Signature Center 480 West 42nd Street. BroadwayWorld has a look at the cast in action below...

David Rabe's Sticks and Bones, the production launching The New Group's 20th Anniversary Season, will feature Richard Chamberlain, Nadia Gan, Holly Hunter, Morocco Omari, Bill Pullman, Ben Schnetzer and Raviv Ullman. Previews begin Tuesday, October 21 in advance of an Official Opening Night on Thursday, November 6. A limited Off-Broadway engagement plays through December 14 at The New Group at The Pershing Square Signature Center 480 West 42nd Street. The cast just met the press and you can check out interviews with the whole gang below...

David Rabe's Sticks and Bones, the production launching The New Group's 20th Anniversary Season, will feature Richard Chamberlain, Nadia Gan, Holly Hunter, Morocco Omari, Bill Pullman, Ben Schnetzer and Raviv Ullman. Previews begin Tuesday, October 21 in advance of an Official Opening Night on Thursday, November 6. A limited Off-Broadway engagement plays through December 14 at The New Group at The Pershing Square Signature Center 480 West 42nd Street. The cast just met the press and you can check out photos from inside the special event below...

Atlantic Theater Company presents the American premiere production of award-winning British playwright Roy Williams' stage adaptation of Alan Sillitoe's beloved short story The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner, directed by Leah C. Gardiner. The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner features Eshan Bay, Sheldon Best, Zainab Jah,Jasmine Cephas Jones, Patrick Murney, Joshua E. Nelson, Sydney Sainte, Raviv Ullman, Todd Weeks and Malik Yoba.The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner began previews Wednesday, January 8, and officially opened last night, January 21, at Atlantic Theater Company's Stage 2 330 West 16th Street. Check out photos from opening night below...

Welcome back for another installment from Brady Riann, Moviefone's teenage correspondent. You'll get reviews and insights into the world of film -- from a teenage perspective.

This week marks the DVD release of Cartoon Network's live action teen-aged comedy "Contest" starring Danny Flaherty as bullied high school student Tommy Dolen and Kenton Duty as his swim cap sporting arch-nemesis Matt Prylek. The film also stars Mary Beth Peil, Katherine McNamara, and even "Phil of the Future" star Raviv Ullman has a short role as the cooking game show host.

The film revolves around the bullied Tommy dealing with an interesting set of emotional and physical obstacles he must overcome. One of those obstacles is Matt, a swimming star with his own set of issues -- issues he decides to take out on Tommy. But after the two have the confrontation to end all confrontations, they must put their differences aside...

In most films that have a bully character, they're usually some sort of mean-spirited jock who picks on anyone who doesn't run in his same circles. While Contest certainly does borrow a few of these same traits, Kenton Duty's Matt Prylek is much different. Matt, a star on the local swim team, gets busted for a cruel prank on his frequent target Tommy Dolan (Daniel Flaherty). However, Matt is essentially forced to befriend Tommy or he'll lose his spot on the swim team. They team up for a local TV channel's cooking contest, where the winner gets his own reality show. I recently had the chance to speak with Kenton Duty over the phone about taking on a unique kind of cinematic bully, his experiences on the set, and much more. Here's what he had to say.

I got a chance to see this the other day, and it's...

The teen drama Contest takes a unique look at the hot-button topic of bullying by presenting both sides of the coin in an innovative way. The story centers on Tommy Dolan (Daniel Flaherty), a high school kid who is constantly picked on by the swimming team, particularly Matt Prylek (Kenton Duty), whose latest prank has some unforseen consequences. Matt is forced to join Tommy's team on a cooking contest, where the winner gets his own reality show. In the middle of these unorthodox friends is blogger Sarah O'Malley (Katherine McNamara), who learns the real truth behind this forced partnership. I recently had the chance to chat with Katherine McNamara over the phone for Contest, which debuts on DVD December 17. Here's what she had to say.

Can you first talk about your initial reactions to the script? This is a very different kind of high school drama. Was there something in...

Last night, Marin Ireland, Sebastian Stan, Raviv Ullman, and Girls stars Zosia Mamet and Allison Williams led a benefit reading of Beth Henley's Pulitzer Prize winning play Crimes of the Heart for The New Group. The special event took place at 7pm in the Acorn Theatre Theatre Row, 410 West 42nd Street. BroadwayWorld was there for the special event and you can check out photos below...

Former Disney Channel fans may have recognized a familiar face on "Mad Men" last night: Danielle Panabaker.

Note: Do not read on if you have not yet seen Season 6, Episode 6 of AMC's "Mad Men," titled "For Immediate Release."

In the most recent "Mad Men" episode, Panabaker played Daisy McCluskey, a flight attendant that was sleeping with Roger Sterling (John Slattery) and ended up proving helpful when it came to Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce (and Cutler Gleason & Chaough) nabbing the Chevy account.

The now 25-year-old Panabaker got her start doing Disney Channel Original movies like 2004's "Stuck in the Suburbs" (with current "Saturday Night Live" cast member Taran Killam) and "Read It and Weep," a 2006 Disney movie she did with her younger sister and fellow actress Kay Panabaker.

Watch her in the former below:

Panabaker went on to appear in some horror flicks like "Friday the 13th," "The Crazies" and "Piranha 3Dd...

Katherine McNamara (New Year's Eve, the upcoming Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn), Kenton Duty ("Shake It Up") and Dan Flaherty ("Skins") will star in teen pic Contest. It's about a small town that revolves around the high school swim team and athletes rule the school. A cooking contest forces two kids - a bully and the kid he bullies -- to work together and as they progress, they become friends. But as the end of the contest nears and the stakes get higher, old feelings and resentments arise and it becomes unclear if the two are friends or enemies. 

Costars include Kyle Massey ("Hart of Dixie," "Cory in the House"), Chris Riggi (Vampires Suck, "Gossip Girl"), Raviv Ullman ("Phil of the Future"), Owen Teague (upcoming TV series "Malibu Country"), and Kelley Missal ("One Life to Live"). Filling out the cast is Joseph Harrington and Jake Schwenke ( both from "Billy Elliott:...

Second Stage Theatre will kick off the 10th anniversary of its Uptown Series with the world premiere of The Bad Guys, written by Alena Smith and directed by Hal Brooks. The Bad Guys will feature Michael Braun War Horse, Roe Hartrampf Unnatural Acts, James McMenamin Suicide, Incorporated, Tobias Segal The Miracle Worker and Raviv Ullman Russian Transport. Previews begin on May 22nd and opening night is Monday, June 4th.

(Actor Zachary Levi, right, claps along to the music of Vintage Trouble, at the Bohemian Dream party at Bardot Hollywood.)

By Terry Keefe

This past March 6th, I had the good fortune to attend the "Bohemian Dream"-themed party at Bardot Hollywood, which benefited the Young Storytellers Foundation, one of the cooler arts-based charities that I've ever heard of and certainly one I would have loved to come to my school as a child.

The Young Storytellers Foundation (http://www.youngstorytellers.com/) brings an incredible program to certain arts-poor Los Angeles area public schools: the nonprofit group invites entertainment industry professionals to the participating schools, who provide the students with a variety of tutoring in the art of storytelling. A significant portion of the program involves students writing their own screenplays and then having them performed by professional actors, including some genuine stars, a few of who acted as hosts...

Don’t let the title, How to Make Love to a Woman (2010) fool you, this endearing film documents the lengths a boyfriend will go to satisfy his girlfriend. Stemming from a major communication misunderstanding, Andy (Josh Meyers) seeks out to pleasure his girlfriend Lauren (Krysten Ritter). This misunderstanding creates a hysterical side story with side-splitting inappropriate locker room dialogue and a guest cameo from ex-adult film star Jenna Jameson. While Andy seeks out on the quest to educate himself, Lauren is presented with a career opportunity of a lifetime by old childhood friend Daniel (Ian Somerhalder) who is there to mentor her throughout, and then some! For such an outrageously gaffe film, the actors involved were picture perfect starting with protagonist Josh Meyers. The Mad TV (TV) funnyman , Meyers proved that he can hold his own and was definitely channeling leading man qualities throughout the film. Breaking Bad (TV) star...

If American movies have taught us anything (this is Canadian, but still), it’s that there is no single more important event in anyone’s life or even in recorded history than the prom. Curing cancer? Killing Hitler? When was the last time you saw a character pursue any of these goals with the manic, all-consuming fervor with which well-dressed teenagers organize their prom? Life, however, teaches a different lesson. In truth, the prom is over in a couple of hours, plenty of people don’t even go, and it infrequently culminates in any sort of life lesson or coming of age experience, with most people agreeing afterward that the time and money might have been better spent elsewhere. As a result, things like Prom Wars are a bit hard to take. There probably are people who take the prom this seriously in reality, but those people aren’t really any easier to take,...

Have a question about gay male entertainment? Send it to aftereltonflyingmonkey@yahoo.com! (Please include your city and state and/or country.)

Q: As much as I like seeing all the scantily-clad men in Spartacus: Sand and Blood, I can’t help but wonder: how awkward must that be for the actors? – Walter, San Diego, CA

Spartacus (Andy Whitfield) gets sand in his codpiece

A: It’s definitely a challenge, at least according to Andy Whitfield, who plays Spartacus on the show.

“They hand you a costume, and you say, ‘That’s it?’” he tells AfterElton.com. “You go, ‘Okay, I’m going to have to create the rest of the character from my own flesh and blood.’ There’s nowhere to hide. You’ve got to show yourself to everyone who’s watching.”

Still, in some ways, the costume does help him get into character. “There’s no protection in what we wear.

Hey Driftwood fans! In case you were unaware, there's a nifty auction going on right now which offers you the chance to take home a bit of horror history!

From the Press Release

Horror fans will have the opportunity to own the actual costumes worn by actors Ricky Ullman, Talan Torriero, Connor Ross and Diamond Dallas Page (among others) in Tim Sullivan’s Driftwood as the wardrobe goes on auction on ebay Monday night, January 18th at 8:00 pm.

Released by Image Home Entertainment in 2007, Sullivan’s teen supernatural thriller took top honors at the Hauntx Film Festival winning Best Feature Film going on to gain a wider audience upon its broadcast on Universal’s Chiller network during Halloween of 2009.

Now, fans of both the film and its stars can literally own the costumes right off their backs. Said Sullivan, “As a lifetime horror fan and collector of memorabilia, I...

Lifetime has decided to cancel their original sitcom, Rita Rocks, after two seasons.

Rita Rocks revolves around an overworked wife and mother who tries to balance the many different aspects of her life, including being in a local rock band. The series stars Nicole Sullivan in the title role with Richard Ruccolo, Tisha Campbell-Martin, Natalie Dreyfuss, Kelly Gould, and Raviv Ullman rounding out the cast.

The show was initially ordered as a companion for reruns of Reba with an eye towards amassing enough episodes to run it five nights a week.

The series debuted in October of 2008 with a 20 episode season. In March 2009, Rita Rocks was renewed for a second season of 20 more installments.

  JoAnn Alfano, executive VP for entertainment at Lifetime, said, "Rita Rocks is the first original comedy that Lifetime...

Rita Rocks is premiering its second season on Lifetime tonight, along with Sherri Shepherd's new sitcom, Sherri. For those of you who haven't seen the show before, Rita stars Mad TV's Nicole Sullivan, who plays Rita, a suburban mom of two daughters who plays in a rock band on the side. Rounding out her garage band are her friends Owen (Ian Gomez), Patty (Tisha Campbell-Martin) and Kip (Ricky Ullman), Rita's daughter Hallie's (Natalie Dreyfuss) boyfriend.

The second-season premiere doesn't really focus on Rita's music so much. While we do still see her at practice, she's mainly dealing with mom stuff, specifically in relation to Hallie, her oldest daughter. In fact, what we have is a perennial family-sitcom classic-- the parent having to give the child "The Talk."

Continue reading Rita Rocks season two -- An early look

 

Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, Early Looks, Reality-Free

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Lifetime has given a full-season pickup to "Rita Rocks."

The network has ordered seven additional episodes of the comedy series from Media Rights Capital, bringing the first-season order to 20.

"Rita," starring Nicole Sullivan as a wife and mother who forms a garage band, premiered Oct. 20, airing as a strip for a week before moving into its regular time slot at 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays. The series, which marks Lifetime's first original comedy in 10 years, is averaging 956,000 viewers per first-run episode.

" 'Rita Rocks' was developed as a companion to Lifetime's most popular comedy, 'Reba,' and 'Rita Rocks' has either built on or held the 'Reba' audience for five of the first six original episodes," Lifetime executive vp entertainment JoAnn Alfano said. "Having a nearly 100% audience retention rate is unheard of when launching a new comedy, but 'Rita Rocks' has achieved that feat."

"Rita" also stars Richard Ruccolo,...

Lifetime has yet another treat for comedy fans out there. The network recently picked up its first original comedy in a decade. Created and executively produced by Stan Zimmerman and Jim Berg, Rita Rocks is set to hit Lifetime in the fall, with 13 episodes ordered by the network, to be produced by Media Rights Capital. Lifetime has paired Rita Rocks with their off-net run of Reba in a one-hour block that promises laughter and fun.

Raines star Nicole Sullivan is set to star as Rita, a woman whose unfulfilled life as a married, working mother who rediscovers her spunk when she becomes a musician in a garage band. Co-starring in the comedy offering are Richard Ruccolo, Tisha Campbell-Martin, Kelly Gould and Raviv Ullman.

Network executives are looking forward to welcoming the new show, especially following the success of Army Wives.

"Viewers tell us that they love our comedies,...

Here's one for Roger Ebert's Overlooked Film Festival. Ishai Setton's witty comic drama, The Big Bad Swim, navigated many successful laps through the festival circuit last year from Tribeca to Avignon, collecting four fest honors and critical acclaim in its wake. But the harsh reality of the film distribution business has set in: The film is now in a very small regional release throughout the nation before its DVD release next month.

To be sure, the film lacks star names, but then so does Knocked Up. "Swim's" two female leads, Paget Brewster and Jess Weixler, are bright, attractive, sexy actresses whose performances certainly appeal to men and women. In fact, Weixler made a considerable impression this year at Sundance in Teeth, causing the jury to create a special prize for her. But that film hasn't been released yet, so Swim can't build on any growing fan base for the actress.

None of which explains why such a sharp comedy didn't gain an enthusiastic distributor. There aren't that many solid comedies, whether aiming for mainstream audiences or sophisticated adults as Swim does, that they should fall by the wayside.

Setton and his writer, Daniel Schechter, cleverly situate their multicharacter story in and around a local gym's swimming pool, where terrified, water-phobic adults gingerly approach an adult-ed swim class much as the vacationers in Jaws eyed the bloody water. Among them are a cop terrified of the water, a young woman looking for a guy and a wealthy couple learning to swim so they can use their new pool.

The two main characters are the least frightened of the bunch. Amy Brewster), a high school calculus teacher, takes the class to escape the strain of a crumbling marriage to a fellow teacher. Jordan (Weixler), who somehow never got around to learning how to swim, uses the class to relax between her two high-stress jobs -- blackjack and roulette dealer at an Indian casino and dancer at a strip club.

The hunky instructor has his own issues. Noah (Jeff Branson) has undergone years of therapy, both physical and psychological, because of an athletic injury. Coming out of his shell now, he is thinking of making two major moves: getting off his meds and acquiring a dog.

Amy and Jordan wind up fast friends, exchanging confidences even as Amy experiments with a romance with a much younger gambler (Michael Mosley) she meets at the casino. Meanwhile, Noah gets a dog. Then one night he wanders into Jordan's strip club, unaware that his student works there.

Jordan's young brother and aspiring documentary filmmaker David (Avi Setton), who is enrolled in a class taught by Amy's husband, wants to make a docu about his sister's life -- and lifestyle. His partner in crime, Hunter (Ricky Ullman), has a major obsession with his big sis.

With each clever plot twist, the film maintains focus on its characters, digging out emotional truths from their interplay and behavior. Brewster, Weixler and Branson spark to the main action as believably troubled yet determined people. And the metaphors about taking the plunge and confronting your own worst fears work out neatly as the interlocking story lines unfold.

Tech credits are fine, both in and out of the water, in this Connecticut-based production.

THE BIG BAD SWIM

Argot Pictures/Setton Sun Prods.

Four Act Films

Credits:

Director: Ishai Setton

Screenwriter/Executive producer: Daniel Schechter

Producers: Ishai Setton, Chandra Simon

Executive producers: Sandy Garvin, David Raymond

Director of photography: Josh Silfen

Production designer: Valerie Green

Music: Chad Kelly, Julian Velard

Co-producers: Ryan Kampe, Elana Pianko, Sylvain Tron

Costume designer: Cara Liedlich

Editor: Ian B. Wile

Cast:

Amy Pierson: Paget Brewster

Noah Owens: Jeff Branson

Jordan Gallagher: Jess Weixler

Hunter McCarthy: Ricky Ullman

David Gallagher: Avi Setton

Martin: Todd Susman

Joanna: Darla Hill

Carl: Kevin Porter Young

Running time -- 96 minutes

No MPAA rating...