‘Chippendales’: Seamy Tale of Jealousy, Greed

“Chippendales Murder,” the true story of the two men who gave the free world male exotic dancing, is just as tacky as a person might expect it to be, with the exception of one semi-redeeming asset--a percolating performance by Naveen Andrews.

Perhaps best known for his work in “The English Patient,” Andrews is a picture of coiled intensity as Steve Banerjee, the initially soft-spoken and mild-mannered businessman from India with an ostensible interest in “what women want.” (Hence his occasional perusal of Cosmopolitan.)

An encounter with choreographer and partner-to-be Nick Denoia (Paul Hipp) gives Banerjee the opportunity to open Chippendales, the nightclub that earned the duo enormous wealth and notoriety starting in the mid-’80s.

Instantaneous success is accompanied by jealousy, greed, deceit and yes, murder.

Oh, and don’t forget all those handsome hard bodies shaking their booties as squealing, frenzied females stuff dollars down their tights.

The script by Richard Delong Adams chronologically traces events as an increasingly paranoid and thoroughly agitated Banerjee reacts in a vindictive manner when Denoia violates a contractual agreement.

Hiring a hit man is no problem for Banerjee, and the dictatorial Denoia never sees it coming. Clearly, any person who crosses Banerjee is in dire jeopardy, and that includes his growing stable of cavorting, though not altogether loyal, entertainers.

Hipp is convincing as the brash Denoia, who demanded total creative control from the get-go. And if Adams’ script is on the mark, there was never any love lost in his acrimonious partnership with the equally ambitious Banerjee. In one sense, that makes for a timeworn tale of paranoia run amok. On the other hand, the savvy portrayal by Andrews at least keeps the film marginally interesting.

USA, of course, presents this seamy story as a racy alternative to election returns on other broadcast and cable networks. Good as Andrews may be, his portrayal should not serve as a reason to ignore tonight’s historic results.

In other words, viewers casting a vote with this particular project are likely to hate themselves in the morning.

* “Chippendales Murder” can be seen tonight at 9 on USA. The network has rated it TV-14 (may be unsuitable for children under the age of 14).