De-Lovely

Biopic of songwriter Cole Porter (Kline) is played as if Porter himself were directing a musical about his life. Focuses on his adultery-ridden marriage to put-upon wife Linda (Judd), who puts up with everything for as long she can. Dreary film is brightened by oddly updated covers of his tunes done by contemporary pop stars such as Elvis Costello, Alanis Morissette, and Sheryl Crow, but the story contains no real nods to Porter's artistic genius or creative struggles. Contrived staging is stolen from better films like "All That Jazz" and "Cabaret." Solid cast is very good, especially Judd, but story is deadly dull and glum.