"The Other Man" is played by Antonio Banderas, a charismatic performer who often improves the film projects he's in with his mere presence.

However, there's not much even he can do for this particular movie, which pretends to be something better, something different and deeper than what it is.

And for what it is, the film turns out to be a lame melodrama masquerading as an erotic thriller. Its plotting leans more toward silly, soap opera-ish machinations, and while Banderas is as charming as ever, there are a couple of crucial bits of miscasting.

For example, Laura Linney replaced Juliette Binoche as the female lead. As good as Linney is, she's not in the same category as Binoche, who has considerable sex appeal. The film suffers as a result.

Speaking of roles that were miscast, the always intense Liam Neeson is cast as an initially meek, cuckolded husband. He's Peter, the longtime companion of shoe designer Lisa (Linney).

Their marriage seems to be perfect, though of late Lisa has been dropping hints about dissatisfaction and questions whether couples can stay together indefinitely.

More questions about Lisa's fidelity remain after her death. In fact, both Peter and their twentysomething daughter, Abigail (Romola Garai), are wondering exactly what has been going on.

So the distraught Peter begins snooping around Lisa's remaining belongings and computer software, hoping to find some clues. What he discovers, though, is that Lisa had been carrying on an affair for quite some time, with a business associate, Ralph (Banderas).

Linney and Neeson appeared together in the Oscar-nominated biographical drama "Kinsey" (2004). But they have zero chemistry here.

In fact, Linney's ice-queen take on the character makes you wonder why anyone would be fighting over her.

As for Banderas, his scenes are the only watchable parts of this nonsense. Screenwriter/director Richard Eyre ("Notes on a Scandal") should have scrapped the rest of the story — even if it was based on a short story by the author of the overrated "The Reader" — and started from scratch with him.

"The Other Man" is not rated but would probably receive an R for strong sexual language (profanity and some suggestive sex talk), female and partial male nudity (including some nude artwork), simulated sex and other sexual contact, other off-color references and language, and derogatory language and slurs. Running time: 89 minutes.

e-mail: jeff@desnews.com