THE IMAGINARIUM OF DOCTOR PARNASSUS

Warning: PG: Violence, coarse language. 123 minutes

Grade: C-

Theatres, showtimes, B13-1

Terry Gilliam's latest hard-luck story, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, is rather a mess, a whimsical, otherworldly carnival that makes about as much sense as one of those magic tricks that your seven-year-old nephew creates on the run: "Wait a minute. Now watch me do this."

Yet you have to have some sympathy. Gilliam -- who ran into similar problems with his long-delayed Man of La Mancha film -- was halfway through Parnassus when one of his actors, Heath Ledger, died. This has now become Ledger's final movie: His part was taken over by Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law, who each do a small portion of the Ledger role.

This means, of course, that the character has to become different people, and it is a measure of Parnassus that this is the least of its problems.

It makes as much sense as anything else in the film, and watching the cream of hot young movie stars each assaying the same role -- a charity executive on the lam from financial malfeasance and hiding out in a travelling sideshow -- is an interesting exercise in seeing how well they can maintain their dignity.

Gilliam directed the Monty Python movies and has had a creative career, as well, in such imaginaria as Time Bandits and Brazil. Here, though, he is just slapping together a clattering machine of show-business history, bargain-basement Faust and cheesy special effects. The Imaginarium needs reupholstering.