When Stars Attack

Looks like Mel Gibson fans might want to turn tail on his new movie: It's apparently ''boring as a dog's ass.'' At least that's the critical assessment of one... Mel Gibson. The star's colorful dis — delivered at a recent Australian press conference — was directed at his indie film The Million Dollar Hotel, directed by Wim Wenders (Wings of Desire) and set to open early next year. In full spin-control mode, Gibson's publicist now insists the prank-loving actor was ''just kidding.'' Whether he was or not, Gibson's intriguing simile begs the question: Are canine cabooses really that dull? ''Yes, most dogs' asses are boring,'' confirms Fred Willard, who appears in the recent pooch-contest parody Best in Show. ''But it's always worth it to sniff out an exciting one.''