Romantic comedies can be such fun, but whoever thought one of the most amusing would come from the Coen Brothers? Joel and Ethan Coen seem more suited to quirky, edgy movies like Fargo -- although O Brother, Where Art Thou? proved they have the talent to branch out into other genres, even musicals. With Intolerable Cruelty, this versatile writing/producing/directing team takes on the old-fashioned screwball comedy and turns it on its head with hilarious results.             

For some reason, most screwball comedies are about rich people (My Man Godfrey, The Philadelphia Story, etc.), and this one is no exception. However, romantic comedies are not usually about such unscrupulous individuals. We must enter the world of the Coens to be reminded that bad people need love too. Co-starring George Clooney and Catherine Zeta-Jones, Intolerable Cruelty tells the story of "a man who wins in court and a woman who courts to win." Clooney portrays Miles Massey, a slick Hollywood divorce lawyer concerned as much about the brightness of his teeth as his O Brother character was about his hair (remember the little net and all that gooey pomade?). Zeta-Jones is Marylin Rexroth, a competitive beauty out for revenge after losing everything in her divorce from a wealthy, philandering husband (Edward Herrmann), who had Miles as his attorney.   

Sure, both Clooney and Zeta-Jones ham it up a bit, but it's a hoot to watch them banter back and forth during their amusing cat-and-mouse game. Speaking about Miles and Marylin, Clooney says, "They're romantics, and they sort of get together because of mutual distrust." Zeta-Jones adds, "From the moment these two people meet, they're on different sides of this wall, but there is an anticipation that these people have to get together."

In-depth performances are not required here; star power and charisma must carry the day as the leading man and leading lady try to outdo each other. Fortunately, that's just what happens. Clooney decided early on to play Miles as "kind of glib and taken with himself," whereas Zeta-Jones views Marylin as a woman "oblivious to the effect she has on the people she comes in contact with, thereby setting the stage for comic mayhem."   

When reacting to that mayhem, Clooney's huge dark eyes register both fascination and frustration to the nth degree. Here's an actor who's as watchable now as Cary Grant or Clark Gable were in their prime. And, while not as animated as Clooney, Zeta-Jones (slimmed-down from her Oscar- winning turn in Chicago) exudes a glamour-gal sexiness reminiscent of Myrna Loy or Rita Hayworth. Those stunning  dresses by Mary Zophres, who did the terrific costumes for Gwyneth Paltrow and Candice Bergen in View from the Top, help give Zeta-Jones her ultra-sophisticated look. "There's an element of drama in everything she wears, but it's not ostentatious in any way," Zophres explains. "We just kept her in clean, sexy silhouettes with very strong colors."   

Although a cast of fine actors provides Clooney and Zeta-Jones with strong support, a favorite of mine receives only limited time on camera. I'm talkin' about the very funny Cedric the Entertainer. He plays a private investigator who enjoys his work too much -- especially his videos of cheating spouses caught in the act. Geoffrey Rush and Billy Bob Thornton steal a couple of scenes as a television producer and an oil tycoon, respectively. Nevertheless, Intolerable Cruelty belongs to Clooney and Zeta-Jones, whose satirical performances made me wonder if there might be some truth to the old saying that "life is just one fool thing after another, and love is just two fool things after each other." But, hey, I'm an incurable romantic. I know that can't be true.  

(Released by Universal Pictures and rated "PG-13" for sexual content, language and brief violence.)