You can tell that the character Mandy Moore plays in "How to Deal" is supposed to be dark and brooding because the teenage singer/actress's hair color is much darker than usual. Believe it or not, that's as deep as this completely superficial and ludicrous comedy-drama ever gets.

This is one of most poorly thought-out studio films in recent memory. And it doesn't help that it's acted with the conviction of mannequins in a treacly After School Special.

"How to Deal" might even flop with its obvious intended target audience, teen girls — even they are bound to recognize this clumsily manipulative mess for what it is.

Moore stars as Halley Martin, a New Jersey teenager who's trying to cope with a lot of things going on in her life. First, her parents (Peter Gallagher and Allison Janney) have split up after years of marriage. She's also watched as both her best friend (Alexandra Holden) and older sister (Mary Catherine Garrison) find true love — though at least one of them has nearly lost everything as a result.

As a result, Halley has become completely disillusioned with the concept of love. That is, until Macon Forrester (Trent Ford) comes along. Halley finds herself drawn to this high school outcast — but as they say, love never runs smoothly.

"How to Deal" is painfully hackneyed and clich�d, and the pacing is so completely off that it feels twice as long.

As for Moore, she's not the worst actress in the world. And to be fair, her character is so poorly developed and written that there's little she could have done with it. Yet, that's still no reason for her listless performance — one that's matched by the charisma-challenged Ford.

What's funny is that the adult characters are considerably more interesting, especially Janney's acerbic divorc�e mom. (The subplot concerning her romance with a delivery man played by Dylan Baker would've made an infinitely better movie.)

"How to Deal" is rated PG-13 for scattered use of strong profanity (including one usage of the so-called "R-rated" curse word), two brief scenes of simulated sex and other sexual contact, some racy innuendo, references and humor (including a gag involving a dog), brief drug use (marijuana, done for laughs) and brief vehicular violence. Running time: 101 minutes.

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E-MAIL: jeff@desnews.com