Sorry, folks, but this movie didn't work for me.

We are drawn first to the multiple puns in the title. It could be interpreted as GOOD--Will Hunting, as in beneath the facade, he (Mr. Will Hunting) is really a good guy. Then again, it could be GOOD--WILL (our lead character)--going off hunting for something. And, it could also be the story of someone hunting for goodwill. Enough!! A title can't be this cute. At least, it can't be this self-consciously cute.

Now, look at the main premise. Deep in the heart of South Boston (Southie) lives the greatest genius the world has ever known--Will Hunting (Matt Damon). He could do anything, but he has chosen to be a janitor at MIT. This job keeps him in touch with his blue-collar buddies, and also, his love for mathematics.

His genius is discovered by prize-winning math professor, Gerard Lambeau (Stellan Skarsgard--fresh from the worst movie of all time--"Breaking the Waves") who wants him to concentrate on math and use his amazing talents. A sympathetic shrink from Southie, Sean Maguire (Robin Williams) gets him to deal with his "issues," and an upper-crust Harvard girl, Skylar (Minnie Driver) falls in love with him. He finally straightens out. The End.

Does this sound slightly derivative to you? Does it strain credibility a wee bit? Let me count the ways.

The bad boy meets good girl, who reforms bad boy thing has been done about a thousand times before. No need to harp on that problem, other than to say that there is about zero chemistry between Damon and Driver. I don't know about you, but I'm getting tired of these plain Jane women with no charisma being given leading lady roles.

Then there's the little matter of a genius being un-discovered until age 20. That would be bad enough, but take a look at who helps him. I went to MIT, and believe me, it would be a rare professor indeed, who would want to foster any competition. Big time academia, like big time anything, is chock full of insecure people with major egos.

What we have here is a crummy little movie that no one would have given two hoots about, had they not gotten Robin Williams to star in it (for a reported $20 million). In fact, these situations define star power. Remember "Silence of the Lambs"? The story befitted a grade Z mad slasher flick, but it was a grade Z mad slasher flick with Anthony Hopkins and then rising star Jodie Foster. That's what makes all the difference.

No doubt, I'm in the minority. Well over 90 percent of the critics loved this picture, as did the public. Why?

Was it the gritty realism? (As in using the "f" word over 100 times)

How about the class struggle? (The boy from the wrong side of the tracks takes on the Harvard phonies)

No. It was the big payoff, and signature line of the film, delivered by Williams to a weeping Damon: "It's not your fault...it's not your fault...it's not your fault."

Total absolution. We're all victims!!