This film stars Al Franken as StuartSmalley -- the self-help guru who is enrolled in more 12-stepprograms than Drew Barrymore. His "personal crisis"begins when his cable access show, Daily Affirmations WithStuart Smalley, is cancelled by his nemesis Roz Weinstock,who Stuart declares a "grandiose, shame-based, over-eater,sick in her own disease." Quickly thereafter, Stuart's auntPaula dies, and he is compelled to go home to his dysfunctionalclan, complete with alcoholic brother and father, co-dependentmother, and overeating sister. (As Stuart tells his journal,"As I am sucked inexorably toward home, I am choosing thistime to come to terms with some of my `family of origin' issues.As they say in Al-Anon: Trace it. Face it. And Erase it.")

This movie relies on a witty string ofintellectual jokes about self-help and interpersonal dynamics.(Though Stuart, always sporting an atrocious sweater andridiculous grin, has an appearance that begs for laughter beforethe lines leave his mouth.) While his family never ceases toamuse, the film also features some heavier scenes that trulyaddress some of the problems that are so frequently joked aboutin the movie. As the film's poster suggests, "You laughbecause it's not your family; you'll cry because it is."

His pal-cum-Al-Anon-sponsor Julia (LauraSan Giacomo) does delightful job playing Stuart's esteem booster.Vincent D'Onofrio, who recently played an alien in Men InBlack, is simply hilarious as Stuart's underachieving brotherDonny, who -- in a loving show of support -- xeroxes Stuart'sjournal and passes out pages to implicated family members atinopportune moments. Julia Sweeney also provides a satisfyingcameo as a receptionist who has less self-esteem than astreet-grate.

Though the film is no Citizen Kane,it's not The Coneheads, either. The jokes require carefulattention to detail, but the focused viewer is rewardedgenerously. No car-crashes or explosions (unless you count theFourth of July celebration during which Stuart declares emotionalindependence from his family), just a lot of well-written spoofsof group hugs and positive thinking. The acting is good enough,the writing is smart enough, and gosh darn it... well, you knowthe rest.