REEL CRITICS:

“What Happens in Vegas” is marketed as a wild and crazy escapade to Sin City. The producers seem eager to duplicate the success of risqué films like “There’s Something About Mary.” They even signed up quality heartthrobs Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher as the stars of the story.

They meet by chance after fleeing to Las Vegas following social disasters in both their lives. Following a night of outrageous partying, they end up drunk, flirting and unintentionally married by morning. This basic premise has good possibilities for this genre. But they are never realized in the lame screenplay that undermines the premise. It’s hard to believe that only a few minutes of the entire movie actually takes place in Las Vegas.

There’s also little of the real chemistry between the stars required to ignite this kind of flick. The players spend far more time pulling juvenile pranks on each other than developing a relationship that might involve the viewers. The ads offer hilarious romantic comedy. But the end product delivers only contrived nonsense with bad acting and infrequent laughs.

Man grapples with strange fortuity in martial arts flick

David Mamet has written and directed another interesting drama, “Redbelt,” that delves into the world of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. As with most of his works, the men’s parts are complex and the women one-dimensional, but Mamet’s trademark edginess and dialogue rhythms keep it watchable.

Mike Terry (a terrific Chiwetel Ejiofor) runs a small martial arts academy that’s barely solvent, as his wife, Sondra (Alice Braga), keeps reminding him.

He’s a man for whom the dignity and honor of the sport are everything.

One of his premiere students is a policeman, also about to become a black belt and also with money problems.

When a distraught attorney (Emily Mortimer) accidentally hits Mike’s parked car, it sets into motion a strange and tragic chain of events that seem quite farfetched but in keeping with the noirish feel of this movie.

Tim Allen has an interesting role as an action movie superstar who walks into a bar looking for a fight.

Mike just happens to be there, and saves the guy’s bacon with an awesome display of graceful physicality. Soon Mike and Sondra are sucked up into a world of celebrity lifestyles and the promise of success beyond their dreams.

The fight scenes are well-choreographed, brutal and exciting.

I was a little surprised that cynical Mamet would end this film with such a “Rocky”-type finish. At least nobody wears a little red beret.

SUSANNE PEREZ lives in Costa Mesa and is an executive assistant for a financial services company. JOHN DEPKO is a Costa Mesa resident and a senior investigator for the Orange County public defender’s office.