Marlon Brando is an amazing actor. Ok, you knew that already.

But in "The Freshman" he demonstrates a side of his talent you may not be familiar with — comedy.

Brando has done comedy before, but this time he's spoofing his Oscar-winning "Godfather" role, called Carmine Sabatini here instead of Vito Corleone. Brando's subtle sense of satire in "The Freshman" is dead-on, managing to be at once a hilarious takeoff and serious re-creation.

He's the main reason to see this film — but he's not the only one.

Matthew Broderick is also quite good in the lead role as Clark Kellogg, a naive film student at New York University. Upon his arrival in Manhattan, Clark is promptly ripped off by a con artist cabbie (Bruno Kirby) who drives off with his bags and money.

Later, as Clark is explaining his dilemma to his school counselor and instructor, a hilariously obnoxious film buff (Paul Benedict), he spots the cabbie through the window, leaps out and chases him down.

Since the cabbie has gambled away all Clark's money, he offers him a job opportunity with his Uncle Carmine (Brando). Soon Clark is transporting across state lines an endangered Komodo dragon — a huge lizard (provided for the film by Jules Sylvester, the same animal collector who came up with the tarantulas for "Arachnophobia").

The rest of the plot is convoluted, crazy and very funny, involving everything from a wild chase through a mall, an unexpected romance with Carmine's daughter (Penelope Ann Miller), a rendezvous with a "Dr. Strangelove"-like German chef (Maximilian Schell) and a cameo by Bert Parks as himself, singing "Tequila," "Mona Lisa" and, in a takeoff on his years as the host of the "Miss America Pageant," "Here She Comes, Your Komodo Dragon."

Writer-director Andrew Bergman, best known for his very witty screenplay, "The In-Laws," is an expert at nutty plotting, and "The Freshman" is every bit as unpredictable as that film, loaded with snappy dialogue, zany situations and unexpected goofball characters. (It was Bergman who personally hit up Brando to take his role here — an inspired casting move if ever there was one.)

"The Freshman" is so consistently daffy and free-spirited, it simply defies audiences to dislike it.

And, though it's not absolutely necessary to the enjoyment of the film, it helps to be familiar with the "Godfather" movies. If you are, you're in for some extra chuckles.

It is rated PG for some violence and profanity.