by JOANNE LATIMER

Stunned, I was, after reading this line in the press kit for James Toback's new film: "When Will I Be Loved is a hip, scintillating, post-feminist film." Post-feminist film?

Why? Because our female lead masturbates in the shower and dupes her hustler boyfriend? Because she shakes down a wealthy Italian count? Toback, a director who seems to identify with fast-talking grifters, complicates his gender politics by making his leading lady a needy, spoiled brat with control issues.

Nothing brings out my inner suffragette more than a film that announces its allegiance to post-feminism. (Has the time really come when we can stop concerning ourselves with things like representation of gender, discriminatory hiring and equal work for pay of equal value?) While trying to ward off criticism for making his female lead a black widow type, Toback (The Gambler, Two Guys and a Girl, The Pick-Up Artist) only invites commentary about his callow female heroine, played by Neve Campbell. Her character isn't exactly a model of modern self-possession. Her wealthy parents give her a loft in New York City and her living expenses are safely covered. Grounded, she ain't.

Much hinges on whether the audience agrees with Toback's belief in the seductive power of Neve Campbell. She apparently attracts handsome men on the street and bewitches prospective employers (Toback plays a professor who needs an assistant). Pretty lesbians visit her loft for afternoon trysts, complete with video camera, and an Italian billionaire cannot forget a glimpse of Campbell in an airport lounge several years back.

Things get nasty when Campbell's boyfriend (Frederick Weller) pimps her out to the Italian count (Dominic Chianese) for $100,000. This indecent proposal isn't unnerving, as intended. It's no shocker because our loving young couple is more of a toxic duo, sparring with word games and angling for the upper hand. Their conversations are too clever and fast to ring true, while Toback tries to show us that Campbell's superior wit disqualifies her as a pawn. Toback's post-feminist position - she's too smart for her own good, that one - couldn't be more maddening.

What a mess of a movie, including the director's urge to cut from hip-hop to classical music. Then there are the random cameos by Mike Tyson, Damon Dash and Laurie Singer. Thankfully, it's all over in 81 minutes, when audiences will furrow brows and forget this film.

When Will I Be Loved opens Friday, Sept. 17

>> Movie Listings