"You, Me and Dupree" is a pleasant, silly little buddy flick starring Owen Wilson that works best if you like-guess who?- Owen Wilson. If you're not an Owen Wilson fan, subtract one acorn and take your chances. Then again, if Wilson's not on your VIP list, why even choose to see this one? You'll get what you deserve.

For the record, I happen to be an Owen Wilson fan. I liked "Bottle Rocket" and even "The Big Bounce." My wife has commented more than once that there's very little cinematic behavior beneath me (I proudly own both "Jackass-The Movie" and "Re-Animator," and anything in between I consider fair game. "Dupree" belongs in that muddy gray zone, and if you like juvenile-prone, sexually suggestive buddy farces, this one's right up your alley. It's not as provocative as last year's "Wedding Crashers" and not as well written either, but Wilson continues to do what he does best, which is to play Owen Wilson. "Dupree" is quite funny in places, clever now and then, although the plot's thin and even buddy-pic fans will probably feel that they've seen this all before.

"You, Me and Dupree" MPAA Rating: R Acorn Rating Guide:

Newlyweds Molly and Carl (Kate Hudson and Matt Dillon) move into their new house, and Carl's old college buddy shows up to stay "for a few days." Randolph Dupree's been fired and dumped, without home or car or means of employment. He's an anchorless, aging surf-dude sort of guy, with the heart, soul and apparent intelligence of a 6-month-old golden retriever. Ever the optimist, Dupree tries to do right by Carl and Molly but ends up bumbling his way into trouble at every turn. Inadvertently, Dupree unsettles both Carl's home life and business career-he works for Molly's father, played with panache by Michael Douglas-and as the weeks pass, a slowly unglued Carl becomes suspicious of Dupree's intentions with Molly.

Nothing groundbreaking there-although somehow Owen Wilson's persistent optimism and bewildered naivety is enough for die-hard fans. The ending's a little pat and predictable, but there's really no other place for a film like this to go.

"Scoop" is a pleasant, silly little screwball comedy written and directed by Woody Allen that works best if you like-guess who?-Woody Allen. After daring into mainstream Hitchcockian waters with last year's respectable "Match Point," Allen has returned to his familiar comedic roots and wears "Scoop" like a comfortable old shoe.

"Scoop" MPAA Rating: PG-13 Acorn Rating Guide:

What's interesting here is Allen's apparent new cinematic muse, Scarlett Johansson. Indeed, she's "Scoop's" best asset-displaying a natural timing and comedic flair unexposed in "neweraged" vehicles like "Lost in Translation" or the more subdued "In Good Company."

Watching "Scoop," I was reminded of the old farcical comedies of the '30s and '40s, nonsensical, yet breezily enjoyable. Ian McShane plays London journalist Joe Strombel, who dies before breaking what would have been the biggest story of his illustrious career. His restless ghost returns to help budding student journalist Sondra Pransky (Johansson) track down London's notorious Tarot Card Killer. In turn, Pransky turns to a neurotic, second-rate magician, Sid Waterman (Allen), as her unwitting accomplice. Strombel's ghost has fingered British aristocrat Peter Lyman (Hugh Jackman) as the killer- but Pransky is smitten with Lyman and falls in love. Most of the film is a nicely crafted although utterly preposterous juggling act of whodunit, mistaken identity and, most delightfully, Johansson and Allen trading smug wisecracks. In one

scene, sleuthing through a garden party filled with British aristocracy, Pransky introduces Waterman as her well-to-do father, who nervously proceeds to do card tricks for the bemused guests.

The scene is classic Allen (who looks remarkably preserved throughout the film), and while "Scoop" might not be Allen's best comedic effort, there's more brightness than murk in a fun and flighty lighthearted romp.