Stylish, improbable, entertaining, superficial, well cast, and totally synthetic.

Unfortunately, Rosenberg directs flatly, hopping from one set piece to the next, disjointedly throwing characters of varying interest across Newman's path.

As a convoluted caper it generates action rather than character and surface mystery rather than meaning.

The Drowning Pool lacks the freshness of its 1966 predecessor, though Newman can still trade quips with the best of them.