In case you're wondering how director-writer Barry Levinson will rebound from the expensive and embarrassing flop of Toys, the answer isn't the frail Jimmy Hollywood. It's less expensive and embarrassing, but it's a clinker nonetheless. Except for a stylish turn with Bugsy in 1991, the filmmaker who showed sly comedic ease with Diner and Tim Men has allowed pretension to bloat his work since winning an Oscar for Rain Man.

Jimmy Hollywood was meant to be the film that let Levinson move fast on his…