Jackie York is a self-absorbed, sharped-tongued novelist, who gets her kicks by sleeping with literary groupies and smoking cartons of cigarettes.

She is also one of the most memorable characters to grace Canadian cinema in ages.

Directed by Alberta's Anne Wheeler, Suddenly Naked is a very funny look at the repercussions of an older woman-younger man relationship.

Wendy Crewson is thoroughly enjoyable as the 39-year-old author, whose bitterness towards an ex-boyfriend is impeding the writing process for her next book.

Crewson's self-assured performance is crucial to the success of this film. Any other actress in this role may have lessened its appeal.

While much of her job is to deliver Wheeler's biting one-liners, Crewson also exhibits an innate understanding of her character's self-consciousness and fears.

When Jackie agrees to meet a writer, whose work she has been admiring via e-mail exchanges, she is surprised to see a 20-year-old bottle-blond punk kid standing before her.

Patrick McKeating (Joe Cobden) turns out to be an intelligent and articulate man, who can match Jackie's dry sarcasm barb for barb.

Despite the 19-year age gap, Jackie find herself falling in love with him.

With a lanky physique and prominent nose, Cobden is not what you'd call a heartthrob. But that's just what gives the film a more realistic tone.

Peter Coyote gives a wonderfully subtle and gently humorous performance as Jackie's closest confidante.

Witty and smart, Suddenly Naked is one of Wheeler's best.

(This film is rated R)

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