MOVIE REVIEW

Anna Nicole Smith plays herself in writer Celia Fox's convoluted scenario about five friends at West Hollywood's annual Halloween mega-party.

By Kevin Crust, Times Staff Writer

A shaggy dog tale in more ways than one, the campy comedy "Wasabi Tuna" is the kind of film that can give dumb blonds a bad name. Anna Nicole Smith plays herself in a supporting role alongside a cast of similarly brainpower-challenged characters in writer Celia Fox's convoluted scenario about five friends (Barney Cheng, Jason London, Tim Meadows, Alanna Ubach and Antonio Sabato Jr.) who each year strive to achieve über-fabulous, food-themed costumes for West Hollywood's Halloween mega-party.

This year for a change they opt for gangster chic over the title sushi as their attire, which leads them to getting involved with real gangstas, inept DEA agents, Anna Nicole drag queens, ninja gymnasts and eventually Ms. Smith herself. The story unfolds with Cheng's and London's characters trying to talk their way out of a drug bust at the WeHo sheriff's station and director Lee Friedlander illustrates the meandering plot with vintage film clips. Things go downhill fast after a cleverly colorful title sequence with the plethora of subplots (including the alleged kidnapping of Smith's pooch, Sugar-Pie) colliding in a messy showdown in Chinatown.

ADVERTISEMENT

"Wasabi Tuna," rated R for sexual content. Running time: 1 hour, 30 minutes. At Loews Cineplex Beverly Center 13, 8522 Beverly Blvd., (310) 652-7760; and Edwards Park Place, 3031 Michelson Drive, Irvine, (949) 440-0880.