WISHBONES

Hollywood shenanigans intrude on a Southern gal’s movie debut.

Sarah Booth Delaney, part-time PI, full-time Daddy’s Girl, leaves Zinnia, Miss., to costar with her new beau, Graf Mileau, in a remake of Body Heat. They barely have time for a wardrobe fitting before director Federico’s former lover is found dead in Lettohatchie Canyon; flames nibble at Sarah Booth’s rental house; and a set balustrade crumbles. Nor do matters improve when the cast moves to Costa Rica to film at the home of Federico’s dead wife Carlita. A ghost stalks the corridors; Federico’s crazy daughter threatens all newcomers; and his current lover, Jovan, a gorgeous supermodel turned actress, is waylaid. Sarah Booth’s Zinnia chums Cece, Millie and Tinkie come to the rescue, but more trouble’s afoot. Sweetie Pie and Chablis, the southern gals’ doggie pals, are harmed. Worse yet, Sarah Booth is haunted by both a mysterious lady in red and Jitty, a familiar ghost who keeps popping up in costumes from movie classics. Sarah’s heart is torn between love for Graf and lingering pit-pats for Coleman, her married amour. Several close-ups and close calls later, Sarah Booth and Tinkie are en route to Zinnia, where all good Southern girls belong.

Jitty’s costume changes are amusing, but the rest of the plot runs on clichés, from secret passageways to unacknowledged offspring. Like Bones to Pick (2006), a shade too cutesy for sophisticates.