CRASH, a movie set ironically during the Christmas season, would have much more aptly been called RACE, as its large and talented cast chews up the scenery, packing every sentence with some racial insult. A funny and sometimes downright hilarious movie, RACE, I mean CRASH, is directed and co-written by Paul Haggis, the Oscar nominated writer of MILLION DOLLAR BABY.

Populated with characters who are all stereotypes, the complicated story feels more like a fascinating writing exercise than it does a movie, in which you normally expect characters that are more genuine and coincidences that aren't around every single corner. But that is more a commentary than a criticism. Once you accept that everyone in this film version of L.A. views every aspect of their lives through the color of their skin and everyone else's, it is easy to go with the flow and be entertained by the film's bold preposterousness. It is a movie that is really out there.

There is a single exception. Late in the picture there is a child endangerment scene that is so far beyond the pale that I started literally to jump up and walk out in protest. After clearly crossing the line, the movie then tries to win us back into its good graces, but I initially had trouble forgiving it. I came close to docking the movie two full stars for that shameless incident but decided in the end to ignore it entirely in my rating, since the film's acting is so universally superb. Sandra Bullock, a wonderful actress who keeps signing up for bad movies, is never better than she is here as an uncontrollably angry housewife married to the District Attorney (Brendan Fraser).

CRASH runs 1:40. It is rated R for "language, sexual content and some violence" and would be acceptable for teenagers.