A hard-cursing but outrageously funny comedy-thriller with Shelley Long and Bette Midler working wonderfully well together as aspiring actresses duped by Romeo teacher Peter Coyote who turns out to be an international double-agent.

Forget the plot, though, and savour some very funny dialogue mostly delivered by Midler as a bit-part film player who has just appeared in a movie called Ninja Vixens and now horrifies high-minded Shakespearian Long by enrolling in the same acting class.

At first dismissive of Midler's relationship with Coyote and protective of her own - 'Not the kind you're used to. No money changed hands' - Long soon jumps figuratively into bed with her rival to set off in pursuit of the wily Coyote.

You can forecast the finale, but the film remains fun to the very end. I laughed like a drain.