There's a secret in "Little Black Book," but it won't be a secret for long: The film is so laugh-deprived that it challenges the advertising that it's a comedy.

But the serious lack of funny is only the start of the problems with this smug movie, which tries to mine humor from such situations as invasion of privacy — including loved ones.

And it also makes the mistake of relying heavily on the supposed charms of Brittany Murphy, who's gone quickly from an endearingly goofy ingenue to a big-screen irritant, thanks to duds like this.

She stars in "Little Black Book" as Stacy Holt, a would-be investigative journalist who wants to be the next Diane Sawyer. Instead, she finds herself in New Jersey serving as the new associate producer on "The Kippie Kann Show," a daytime talk-fest (think the Sally Jessy Raphael Show).

Stacy is also living with her new boyfriend, Derek (Ron Livingston), a talent scout for the New Jersey Devils. But while he's off on a scouting trip, Stacy's friend, Barb (Holly Hunter), persuades her to look through his personal organizer.

To her surprise, Stacy discovers that he's still in contact with his past girlfriends, including Lulu (Josie Maran), a supermodel; Rachel (Rashida Jones), a self-obsessed gynecologist; and Joyce (Julianne Nicholson), a chef. Convinced that Derek is still in love with at least one of them, Stacy sets up faux interviews with all three women to see if her suspicions are true.

It's galling to think that the filmmakers actually believe anyone will find such a duplicitous character interesting. And as played by Murphy, Stacy is full of supposedly comic character quirks, but little else.

Of course, it's not as if any of the characters here are particularly likable, save perhaps Nicholson's naive and trusting Joyce. (The usually dependable Livingston isn't in the film enough to make much of an impression.)

And it's sad to see talented pros like Hunter and Kathy Bates (who plays Stacy's talk-show-host boss) slumming with material like this . . . though it's not like they're putting in much of an effort.

"Little Black Book" is rated PG-13 for crude humor about and references to sexual functions (including a "comic" gynecological exam), a scene of violence (talk-show brawling), and scattered use of profanity. Running time: 105 minutes.

---

E-MAIL: jeff@desnews.com