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'Thank You For Smoking' feels a little stale

The film adaptation of Christopher Buckley's wickedly funny 1994 novel comes awfully close to being great, close enough that a couple of big flaws can't sink the whole movie.

Fox Searchlight Pictures 'Thank You For Smoking' 3 out of 5 stars Director: Jason Reitman Starring: Aaron Eckhart, Robert Duvall, Katie Holmes, Rob Lowe, Sam Elliott, William H. Macy, Adam Brody, Maria Bello Run time: 92 minutes Release date: March 17, 2006 Rating: R for language and some sexual content. See showtimes Meet the director •  Director Jason Reitman tells the Palm Beach Post he was never a smoker. •  The Austin American Statesman finds Reitman un-PC and unapologetic. On the web Official movie site View the trailer    Trailers require Quicktime Rate 'Thank You For Smoking'   Go see it   Make it a matinee   Wait to rent   Don't bother Voter Limit: Once per Hour View Poll Results

The plot deals with Nick Naylor (Aaron Eckhart), spin doctor for the tobacco industry, who can turn a debate about the health effects of cigarettes into a discussion of personal freedoms. As he works on a deal to get more cigarettes placed in movies, he also tries to be a role model to his son (Cameron Bright), tumbles into an affair with an ethically challenged reporter (Katie Holmes) and faces a threat on his life.

Sections of "Thank You For Smoking" are simply wonderful: Rob Lowe steals the movie as an Asia-obsessed Hollywood agent, with a sharp Adam Brody as his assistant. Robert Duvall turns a Southern tobacco baron into a rich and affecting character, and Sam Elliott is powerful as a cancer-stricken former Marlboro Man who has to make a wrenching decision.

The movie's best moments are funny and provocative, but, while it's never less than entertaining, it doesn't consistently hit these high points. The story feels a little dated — it's a bad sign that the opening scene occurs on a "Jenny Jones"-type talk show.

And while most of the supporting cast excels, the usually reliable Eckhart is not quite right as the charismatic and manipulative Naylor. He doesn't sell us as a guy who can sell anything.