'Shelley': It's All in Vain

You have to hand it to 31-year-old Namrata Singh Gujral: As a young, obscure actress of Indian, Tibetan, Latin and Egyptian descent trying to get noticed in Hollywood, she has taken control of her destiny by writing her very own star vehicle. Unfortunately, what "Americanizing Shelley" displays in gumption is far outweighed by vanity, vapidity and embarrassingly low-rent production values.

Gujral, best unknown for anonymous supporting roles in such films as "House of Sand and Fog" and "Training Day," plays Shalini Singh, a young woman from the Himalayas whose family has arranged for her to marry Neil Brar (Phillip Rhys); when Shalini graduates from college, however, she discovers that Neil has moved to Hollywood. She tracks him down and, to get his attention, decides to make herself over, enlisting the help of a sweet young talent agent (Brad Raider) to become a fake celebrity.

With its tired reworking of "Pygmalion" and stiff, amateurish staging, "Americanizing Shelley" is clearly all about one thing: Gujral. (It bears noting that out of a cast that inexplicably includes Beau Bridges in a supporting role, only Gujral gives herself an extended link on the movie's Web site.) She's cute, but by the end of this ego trip, she's more insufferable than adorable.

--Ann Hornaday

Americanizing Shelley PG, 90 minutes Contains sensuality and some profanity. At AMC Loews Dupont and AMC Loews Shirlington.