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OutKast never finds the right gear in 'Idlewood'

It has looked for some time as if André Benjamin, the half of hip-hop team OutKast with the robotlike alias André 3000 and the anything-but-robotic grin, might be set to become a Big Star. Not just a multiplatinum, Grammy-winning songwriter, but the kind of authentic pop phenomenon we see so little of these days. And it looked like "Idlewild" might be the vehicle to take him there — a boisterous movie musical with a setting as flamboyant as the star and a soundtrack tailored to strut his and his partner's stuff.

Universal Pictures 'Idlewild' 2 out of 5 stars Director: Bryan Barber Starring: Andre 'Andre 3000' Benjamin, Antwan 'Big Boi' Patton, Faizon Love, Paula Jai Parker, Paula Patton Run time: 120 minutes Release date: August 25, 2006 Rating: R for violence, sexuality, nudity and language. See showtimes On the web Official movie site View the trailer    Trailers require Quicktime Rate 'Idlewild'   Go see it   Make it a matinee   Wait to rent   Don't bother Voter Limit: Once per Hour View Poll Results

Unfortunately for Benjamin, "Idlewild" is no kind of showcase. Unfortunately for the rest of us, the movie's a dud even by the low standards of the pop-star-centered musical.

The movie's look is hugely entertaining: The art department's freehanded interpretation of Prohibition-era decor and wardrobe is colorful enough to stand up against the outfits OutKast wears in photo shoots. Shawn Barton's wild-stripe dress shirts are a better special effect than any of the little CGI touches thrown in to give the period piece a contemporary feel.

But it's quickly clear that looks are about all "Idlewild" has going for it. Its generic gangsters-and-showbiz plot is hustled across in dialogue so flat that a line like "you're cute, piano player — got a name?" hardly stands out.

Meanwhile, first-time filmmaker Bryan Barber (a music-video director, naturally) doesn't seem to have any idea what to do with actors. The better players in the cast tread water here, while others hope that if they just say things loudly enough, nobody will pay attention to the words themselves.

None of this would be fatal if the movie gave us some killer musical numbers, but there's surprisingly little of that. The filmmakers may borrow some narrative themes from "Purple Rain" (Benjamin's character is a sensitive soul in the shadow of an emotionally damaged father), but they learned nothing from that movie's gift for showing musician-stars in their best light on stage. In the best musical numbers, Benjamin and Big Boi (Antwan Patton) are upstaged by a team of swing dancers whose moves are photographed like a Gap ad; in the worst, songs are tacked onto other action like afterthoughts. Strangely, Benjamin doesn't even get a showy limelight moment until the credits are about to roll.

Benjamin has been vocal in interviews about wanting to take acting seriously, and in "Idlewild" he appears to be giving the film the benefit of the doubt, underplaying his role in the hopes that he needn't ditch his character's credibility to manufacture some fun for the audience. That's too bad, because the movie drops the ball — and the ironic result is that Benjamin projected more charisma as a supporting character in "Four Brothers" than he does as a leading man here. As for his band, it has created a whole lot more drama on stage and in videos than it does in this half-hearted vanity project.