Mr. Jealousy

There's a terrific, delirious farce struggling to emerge from the likable romantic comedy Mr. Jealousy, in which Lester Grimm (Eric Stoltz), consumed by you-know-what, joins the therapy group of his girlfriend's ex-lover (a hilariously arrogant Chris Eigeman), hoping to find out more about her past. Lest Lester give himself away, he poses as his best friend Vince (Carlos Jacott); then Vince joins the group posing as Lester. The comic possibilities are limitless; unfortunately, by the time writer-director Noah Baumbach (whose Kicking and Screaming was far superior) stumbles onto what ought to have been the plot's engine, his comparatively drab destination is already in view. C+