The Muse

REVIEW
Brooks wrote, directed and stars in this often funny though a little too self-indulgent comedy as a successful screenwriter who is suffering from writer's block. Into his life stumbles Sarah (a luminous Stone), a descendent from Zeus and one of the nine Muses. As he tries to bang out a hit script, she takes control of not only his life but his family's life as well. Brooks manages some friendly and not-so-friendly jabs at the Hollywood filmmaking community, and when his jokes hit their targets, The Muse charms as it produces its laughs. But there's often too much time waiting for the next punchline, however expertly they are delivered by the good ensemble. Some great cameos punctuate the best running joke, including Martin Scorsese, James Cameron and Rob Reiner.