2000, 1 hr 52 min., Rated R for strong violence, pervasive language and a scene of sexuality.�Dir: Neil LaBute. Cast: Ren�e Zellweger (Betty Sizemore), Morgan Freeman (Charlie), Chris Rock (Wesley), Greg Kinnear (Dr. David Ravell/George McCord), Aaron Eckhart (Del), Tia Texada (Rosa), Crispin Glover (Roy), Allison Janney, Sung Hi Lee (Jasmine).

Nurse Betty is an awkward little film, featuring considerable talent playing inspired roles. However, I still can�t get over wondering what the filmmakers were making; is it a comedy? Drama? Black comedy/drama/noir? I understand it; I�m just not sure what the point is.

Perhaps my conflict arises from the trailers, which make Nurse Betty seem like a freewheeling comedy about a delusional housewife (Ren�e Zellweger) and a wisecracking hitman (Chris Rock). That is far from the truth.

Director Neil DeBute�s work is a mix of real life and fantasy, with intertwining characters working in both worlds, sort of Magnolia meets Pulp Fiction. One thing I will say about the film is that is an original.

Okay, there are two things: the performances keep it interesting. Zellweger is the consummate cutie-pie. I just wanna grab her and hug her and squeeze her and call her George. When that soft, quiet voice speaks and you look into those innocent blue eyes, I melt. And every character melts as well.

Except her bastard husband, of course, Right off the bat he calls actors faggots, eats her cupcake, cheats on her and is a used car salesman. Do you think we�re supposed to hate him? Heck, he�s even got a mullet for a haircut!

Everyone knows Betty is off her rocker, yet they can�t bear to be too harsh and ruin her fantasy. The adorable Kansas lass never left the state until she decided it was time to pursue her �ex-fianc�, Dr. David Revell (Greg Kinnear) of her favorite soap, �A Reason to Love� (numerous Dorothy references, only missing the little dog). Of course, after a jolt to her psyche, Betty becomes batty and thinks that the soap is real, and that�s where the films kicks into gear.

The problem is, a fantasy is always better left in your mind. Mine involves marrying Minnie Driver, but I won�t pursue it since she probably hogs the covers and leaves dirty dishes in the sink for a week. Yeah, that�s why Minnie and me won�t work, it�s my choice.

As a pair of hitmen, Morgan Freeman and Rock add the peppers to Betty�s stew. A great duo, Freeman works as the mentor, and demands professionalism from the younger hitman. Just as Samuel L. Jackson in Pulp Fiction, he is the killer with morals. He�s Old School, and doesn�t appreciate the �end-zone dance� attitude of his charge.

�I never took out anyone who didn�t deserve it,� he says, after instructing Rock that the best way to bump off a target is �Boom, boom, boom, three in the head, you know they�re dead.� Sound advice from Mr. Freeman, who has a good chance of being nominated for an Oscar.

Rock provides nearly all of the comedy in Nurse Betty as the ruthless killer who has an addiction to soaps. Waving a gun in a hostage�s face, he yells that his favorite character, Jasmine, �is not a lesbian.� Hey, I hope not, Sung Hi Lee could provide a healthy fantasy life as well. Then again, if she�s a lesbian, then we�re talking about an entirely different kind of fantasy.

Other actors and actresses flesh out Betty, especially Kinnear in a role he plays in every film except As Good as it Gets, shallow yet likeably charming. A plus was involving newly crowned Emmy winner Allison Janney (�West Wing� and American Beauty) as Kinnear�s producer.

Nurse Betty had a good score, positive and upbeat with appropriate tones of melancholy to keep the mood solemn when necessary. Of course, I had to hear this score well since the audio in the theater�well�for lack of better word, sucked. Why is it that half the time I see a movie nowadays, no matter which theater, something isn�t right with the audio, be it too soft, too loud, actor track too low, score too high, etc. I have a new fantasy, to see every movie with the audio the filmmaker imagined. Is it too much to ask? Can I at least have this one fantasy fulfilled? Where was I? Oh, yeah summer�s over, and with it the meaningless and forgetful popcorn flicks. So see Nurse Betty, because it�s one you�ll remember for awhile.