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* 1/2 STARS

After watching the Coen Brothers latest movie I have to say it felt more like they should have “Burned After Watching” the final print. It’s not that this film is a complete waste of celluloid, it’s just that it is a contrived mess with one of the most over acted performances to ever hit the big screen. After a career of highs and lows this film should go in the category of low films that just didn’t click and missed the mark by Joel & Ethan Coen (along with “The Ladykillers” and “Intolerable Cruelty”).

Brad Pitt can’t help but ham up his role as a personal trainer working at a gym called “Hardbodies”. His character is miles away from his off screen persona and within a few moments we can’t help but see Pitt desperately trying to be a “normal guy”. The world’s sexiest man can’t quite pull off the bumbling idiot type and it slowly becomes obnoxious. Pitt’s over acting is just plain unbelievable and it is a big casting mis-step by last year’s Oscar winners for “No Country for Old Men”.

I never thought I would complain about gratuitous gore and over the top violence, but some how in this movie it seems out of place and unnecessary. The first 45 minutes of “Burn” is a boring set up for the ridiculous and forced action of the second half. The whole movie ends up looking like a wreck comprised up of fancy cinematography, over the top carnage and a lot of uncomfortable laughs. It seems the Coen Brothers have set out to make a film about morons that no one cares about.

I went into this film hoping for another original slice of twisted Americana but came out feeling unsatisfied and almost ripped off. The Coen Brothers have not broken any new ground here or given us anything worth cheering about with “Burn After Reading”. If anything this movie feels like a contractual obligation or a second thought. The witty and unique style you have come to expect from these talented film makers is nowhere to be seen in this short one and a half hour experiment in comedy violence.

Normally having great actors like Francis McDormand, George Clooney and John Malcovich in a film guarantees a certain level of enjoyment (even in bad movies) but none of these seasoned veterans could make this film any more likable. Their characters and performances seem familiar and recycled from previous roles that made them the distinct stars they are today. All of the actors involved with “Burn” over act in each of their scenes, and not in the campy fun way you would hope for.

I wish that the Coen Brothers would just stick to riveting crime films and intriguing character studies about odd people. Every time these guys come out with a screwball comedy they gamble and usually lose (”The Hudsucker Proxy” anyone?). But when the Brothers hit a home run a great movie like “Raising Arizona” or “Oh Brother Where Art Thou” is made. At the very least it’s worth watching each of their new films (even a bomb like this) just to get that one great classic that reminds you of their talents. Unfortunately “Burn After Reading” is a throw away comedy and should go down as one of the famous duo’s worst movies to date.