‘Life-Size’ a Lightweight Plastic Doll Story

In “Life-Size,” a vacuous family comedy presented by “The Wonderful World of Disney,”supermodel Tyra Banks wears a staggering number of outfits as Eve, a plastic “Barbie”-type fashion doll come to life.

You can’t call it a stretch, but gorgeous, wide-eyed Banks’ almost alarming naturalness in the role is where credibility ends in this lighter-than-lightweight script by Mark Rosman and Stephanie Moore. (Rosman also directs.)

When 12-year-old Casey (“The Parent Trap’s” Lindsay Lohan) uses a book of spells to try bringing her dead mother back to life, she gets a living Eve doll instead. How to explain Eve to Dad (Jere Burns)? Not a problem after Eve saves Casey from being hit by a truck.

He invites Eve to stay in the guest house, treats her to a shopping spree that would run into the tens of thousands in real life (big fashion montage) and hires her to temp at his law office.

Before she decides whether to return to her plastic world, Eve disarms the office Lothario with esteem-building honesty, wows a crowd by singing the inspirational “Eve Doll” commercial jingle, helps a Plain Jane personnel director land her man with a make-over, prompts Dad and Casey to rediscover each other, and learns what being human really means--tears at a kids’ football game. Banks is clearly enjoying herself, but Burns, who seems to be channeling a benign Jack Nicholson, looks distinctly uncomfortable; Lohan’s notable depth and vulnerability belong in another movie altogether.

* “Life-Size” can be seen Sunday at 7 p.m. on ABC’s “Wonderful World of Disney.” The network has rated it TV-G (suitable for all ages).