Making Mr. Right

New York director Susan Seidelman, who made the delicious Desperately Seeking Susan, ran into a critical buzz saw with this follow-up film, which is actually a smart and cleverly acted little comedy about the battle of the sexes. Performance artist Ann Magnuson plays a commercial whiz who is hired to market a new, almost human android to the buying public. The scientist who created him (John Malkovich) is an antisocial nerd, but the robot (also Malkovich) is exactly what any woman would want: sensitive, caring, eager to please, and willing to listen. This leads Magnuson, who is repelled by the creator, to fall for the creation--but what do you do when you fall in love with a man-made man? Malkovich is delightfully loopy, while Magnuson brings snap and vigor to this role. Definitely better than its reputation. --Marshall Fine