"A Lot Like Love" is a lot like a lot of other romantic comedies, in particular, "When Harry Met Sally."

Not that this one really stacks up with that 1989 classic. If anything, "A Lot Like Love" is even more formulaic, more predictable and considerably less clever than "Harry," or any of the myriad knockoffs that followed.

We've already seen this film a million times before. Yet, there is a certain audience for whom such cinematic comfort food will be welcome, and the film's stars are likable enough to at least ensure that it's watchable.

Ashton Kutcher and Amanda Peet star as Oliver Martin and Emily Friehl, whose on-again, off-again relationship goes back seven years when the two first met during a flight to New York City.

However, after spending a somewhat magical afternoon in the Big Apple, the two go their separate ways. Then, three years later they're reunited in California, when the heartbroken Emily decides to call the phone number — belonging to his parents — that Oliver gave her years before.

To her surprise, she finds him there, and once again the two spend some quality time together. But once again they also part ways. Until years later. . . .

As you can probably tell, director Nigel Cole and screenwriter Colin Patrick Lynch keep finding ways to keep the two characters apart as long as possible. Worse, they never really do a good job of developing some potentially interesting supporting characters, such as Oliver's hearing-impaired brother (Ty Giordano) and one of Emily's more determined suitors (Jeremy Sisto).

But they do give Kutcher and Peet the time and opportunity to "find" their characters and to develop some believable chemistry. That's one thing the film does have going for it: The two leads do appear to be drawn to each other.

Also, Kutcher downplays most of his annoying goofy tendencies and plays the role straighter than you might expect. If anything, it's Peet who's given the comic responsibilities here. And, as she did in "The Whole Nine Yards," she's pretty credible and pretty funny.

"A Lot Like Love" is rated PG-13 for scenes of simulated sex (mostly overheard), some crude sexual humor and references, occasional use of profanity, and some brief partial nudity (male and female). Running time: 107 minutes.

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E-MAIL: jeff@desnews.com