"Wild Things," a 1998 release from Columbia Pictures, is a steamy mystery, equally because it's set in Florida and because we get to see Denise Richards sans shirt or top of any kind, which was definitely worth the price of admission.

The movie starts with Matt Dillon (as Sam Libido, er, Lombardo), and no, he's not chasing Cameron Diaz but he is being touted as 'teacher of the century' or something, leastwise until one of his students (Denise Richards as Kelly Van Ryan) accuses him of rape. The cops are skeptical, but her mom is the richest bitch in town, so Mr. Dillon is in for it. Then, along comes Suzie (Neve Campbell, brilliant in a performance as trailer park, juvie hall, wrong-side-of-the-tracks trash) to add her own accusations, so off to jail with Mr. Dillon.

Just when all looks lost, it's Bill Murray to the rescue. Yes, you read that last sentence correctly. Murray plays a low-rent attorney (Ken Bowden) who represents Dillon, and quite ably at that. He shreds the girl's story, gets the charges dropped, and even gets an eight million dollar 'wrongful accusation' settlement from Sandra Van Ryan. During the celebration party afterward (three way scene with Matt, Denise, and Neve) you find out it was a plot by the three of them to get money from 'deep pocket's' Sandra. Soon after that, it's apparent that the eight million bucks is up for grabs, and that familiar X Files mantra 'trust no one' is in play as the characters go from getting laid to getting screwed.

Kevin Bacon (Ray Duquette) plays a cop that is first convinced by the girl's rape charges, but then figures all three are thick as thieves and puts the heat on them as the scheme begins to crack. The last hour or so has more slippery curves than a female mud wrestler, and just when you think you have things figured out someone else dies. The ending (to me) was a pleasant surprise, and very satisfying.

Saw a bit more of Kevin Bacon than I cared to (other guys will know what I mean), but that was one of the few low points. The totals: a yak for Denise's assets (or Kevin's, depends on your tastes); a yak for the rest of the characters, a yak for one of the better twist endings I've seen (though it took forty minutes or more), and a yak for this being my very first movie review. Four yaks. Check it out.