JAKOB THE LIAR — ** — Robin Williams, Liev Schreiber, Bob Balaban, Hannah Taylor Gordon, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Alan Arkin, Michael Jeter, Nina Siemaszko; rated PG-13 (violence, torture, vulgarity, profanity); Carmike 12 and Ritz 15 Theaters; Century Theatres 16; Gateway 8 Cinemas; Loews Cineplex Broadway Centre, Holladay Center and South Towne Center Cinemas.

Given the similar subject matter, and the fact that their lead actors are known primarily for comedies, the comparisons between "Jakob the Liar" and the Oscar-winning "Life Is Beautiful" were inevitable.

However, discounting those and several other, equally unfortunate resemblances between the two movies, they really couldn't be much different.

For one thing, the former is as clumsy and forgettable as the latter is elegant and memorable. And "Jakob the Liar" is missing the nearly constant air of danger and menace that made the more poignant and humorous scenes in "Life is Beautiful" so heartbreaking.

Also, "Jakob's" odd (but somehow appropriate) blend of humor and tragedy is sadly uneven — though not for a lack of trying on the part of star Robin Williams, who interrupts his otherwise solemn performance with quick mini-routines that seemed forced and which fall surprisingly flat.

Williams plays Jakob Heym, a cafe owner in Nazi-occupied Poland, circa 1944, who accidentally inspires hope in some of the other residents of a Jewish "ghetto." While awaiting punishment for a curfew violation, Jakob overhears a radio broadcast suggesting that salvation may be coming in the form of Russian troops.

Though owning a radio is a punishable offense, and receiving news from the front is almost as dangerous, Jakob shares the information with two friends: Mischa (Liev Schreiber), a boxer he used to manage, and Kowalsky (Bob Balaban), a despondent barber.

By the next day, news of their "imminent" rescue has already spread through the tightknit community as does the rumor that Jakob possesses a radio. And although that's not really the case, he so enjoys his newfound status that he begins fabricating reports to raise spirits, especially for Lina (Hannah Taylor Gordon), an or-phaned girl he is hiding in his attic.

This latter story line is the weakest and the one that will probably further comparisons between the two films. (In fairness, it should be noted that the sources for "Jakob the Liar" — Jurek Becker's novel and a German screen adaptation with the same title — preceded "Life is Beautiful" by several years.)

But frankly, Williams doesn't seem particularly inspired here. His mostly muted performance is probably intended to echo the despair of the real-life Jewish ghettos, but at times he seems downright unlikable and uncharismatic.

Faring better are veteran character actor Armin Mueller-Stahl, who probably would have been better in the lead role, and Schrei-ber and Balaban — despite director/co-scripter Peter Kassovitz giving them so little material to work with.

"Jakob the Liar" is rated PG-13 for violent beatings and shootings, a scene of torture, use of some crude sexual slang (mostly in Yiddish), a handful of profanities and brief gore.