Trial and Error

An actor poses as a lawyer to help his sick friend and problems develop. The 2nd most outrageous trial of the century Studio: New Line Home Video Release Date: 02/03/2004 Starring: Charlize Theron Jeff Daniels Run time: 99 minutes Rating: Pg13 Director: Jonathan Lynn

Jonathan Lynn, who directed the hit film My Cousin Vinny, again takes on another lightweight comedy about a trial in a small town featuring a fish-out-of-water defense attorney. Michael Richards (Seinfeld) plays a struggling actor whose best friend, a trial lawyer (Jeff Daniels), is too hung-over to defend a sleaze-ball client before a no-nonsense judge. Richards's goofy character steps in, pretending to be the attorney and accepting the part as just another acting challenge. Lynn brings nothing distinctive to all this fluff, and unfortunately, the script and cast don't click in the same magical way that Vinny did. Richards still looks at the end like a comic waiting for his big-screen break. --Tom Keogh