MOVIE REVIEWS : GIRLS’ SCHOOL CAPERS IN ‘PRETTY SMART’

“Pretty Smart” (citywide) takes us to an exclusive girls school in idyllic Greece. There, the girls separate into warring groups of stuffy “Preens” and rebellious “Subs,” cavort erotically and frolic on the beaches. And, incessantly, they take off their bikini tops.

But crises loom. Their headmaster bullies them, deals cocaine and sells porno loops secretly taped in their rooms. Their favorite teacher is fired. The year’s rent, four goats paid to a randy count, is due--and the school’s future seems bleak.

Will they prevail? More importantly, will they find their bikini tops? “Pretty Smart” manages to be better than the very similar “Princess Academy” without being particularly good on its own. This indicates how low some genres can sink. As comedy, it’s close to hopeless. The script is distaff “Animal House” blackout-style, filtered through soft core, and much of the best dialogue is in the background looping. But there are a few grace notes: Lead actress Tricia Leigh Fisher has a certain carnal simmer, and, among her buddies, Kimberly Devlin is sparkly.