Britney: 'Papa don't preach!'

Arthur J Pais

Apparently, Britney Spears, who dresses dirty but loves to flaunt her Christian virtues, can sell more than just Pepsi.

The 20-year-old pop singer has just emerged as a box-office diva, thanks to her debut film Crossroads. It fortunately avoided the fate of Mariah Carey's Glitter, a fast fadeout, and is performing better than Mandy Moore's medium range hit, A Walk To Remember.

It is one thing to sit in an auditorium with fellow critics and yawn at Spears' film, complaining about its silly plot, its flat lines and lack of cohesive direction. It is quite another to be with hundreds of teenage girls (and their boyfriends) and see them applaud Spears.

The girl is certainly not afraid of the camera. But, given the material, she travels only so much on screen. It is clearly obvious that the film provides Britney a platform to showcase her 'talents'. She appears in her underwear several times in the first 20 minutes. She croons I love rock and rolland renders I'm not a girl, not yet a woman.

Crossroads made $14 million in three days last weekend and was the second highest grosser in America --- the top film being the $20 million-John Q, starring Oscar-nominated Denzel Washington.

Made for about $12 million, Crossroads could end up earning about $50 million in theatres and rake in a huge DVD and VHS sale.

The plot goes something like this. After staying apart for eight years, three childhood friends, Lucy (Spears), Kit (Zoe Saldana) and Mimi (Taryn Manning) rediscover their friendship on a cross-country trip. Without plans, money, but with tons of dreams, the girls hitch a lift with Mimi's handsome, but mysterious, friend Ben (Anson Mount) in his convertible.

Their road adventure ends with a few important life lessons. The fast-paced film strikes a chord with teenagers, especially those being forced by their parents to choose a career they are not interested in. They seem to be warming up to Crossroads as a buddy movie.

Lucy, a virginal high school valedictorian, loves to sing, defies her father (Dan Aykroyd) who wants her to become a doctor. Of course, she doesn't take his permission for her cross-country trip. Her rebellion also offers insights into her life.

And if you believe Aykroyd, father of three girls, the film will also appeal to parents. "It is reality," explains Ackroyd. "Children and their parents will relate to it because it is about things they have already gone through or are going to go through sooner or later." Aykroyd believes he will be showing Crossroads to his grandchildren.

Britney Spears has good company, indeed.