But it all feels cobbled together, with no sense of narrative style. Veteran director Norman Jewison, who gained his greatest fame with the hard-edged "In the Heat of the Night" (1967), has made some wonderfully light and bubbly comedies, ranging from Doris Day vehicles to "Moonstruck." But the fantasy intentions here - whatever they were - have eluded him, and the film sinks in a mire of cloying sentimentality.

This is the kind of Hollywood film that mixes real-world worries and ridiculous plotting (as when Albert runs away from Harriet's home and manages to board a bus for Atlantic City on his own late one night) and creates a fantastic universe that portrays backstage show business - Las Vegas show biz in particular - as a sort of Dis-ney-land, the happiest place on Earth. Children are welcome backstage, scantily clad showgirls are nurturing, motherly types and everyone loves everyone else. Even Ebenezer Scrooge . . . er, Harriet Franklin has her heart softened after she's been around Albert for awhile.

The central idea here isn't bad - we could use some fluffy, uplifting, optimistic comedies. But "Bogus" just feels . . . well, bogus.

The film is rated PG for comic violence, profanity and the show-girls' skimpy costumes.