Maverick

It's easy to complain that the film isn't as wry and witty as any random episode of the old TV series, and where Garner's original character was low-key, dry and sophisticated, Gibson's seems more rough-and-tumble and histrionic.

But Gibson is a pleasure to watch, Foster performs some wonderfully amusing slapstick and the reliable Garner, as always, is the epitome of smooth charm and unflappable sophistication. And the supporting players — especially Green and Molina — seem to be having fun.

As a bonus, cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond ("Close Encounters of the Third Kind," "The Deer Hunter") offers some fabulous footage of Southern Utah — down around Lake Powell — in the film's first quarter.

"Maverick" won't win any awards . . . unless you count box office receipts. But fans of the stars will have a great time with this first popcorn picture of the summer season. (Or, with all the bad press popcorn's getting these days, maybe we should call it the first Raisinets picture of the summer season.)

The film is rated PG for violence, profanity, some vulgarity and a comic sex scene.