Terms Of Endearment

By RICHARD CORLISS

I'VE HEARD THE MERMAIDS SINGING

Poor Polly. She's 31 going on 13, a gamine klutz working as a temp, famished for experiences that will match her soaring fantasies. She takes photographs and records herself on videotape; she is her own and only pal, admirer and shrink. Polly (Sheila McCarthy) needs to find a heroine -- say, the supersoignee curator of an art gallery (Paule Baillargeon). Then she needs to feel betrayed by this designated goddess so she can finally locate her strengths.

This Canadian comedy scans like a fairy tale for feminist preteens -- Ms. Nancy Drew. Like Polly, Writer-Director Patricia Rozema works entirely too hard to be ingratiating; her picture is a desperate audition for endearment. Falling in love with Mermaids, as many viewers will, is akin to feeding the homeless or adopting an orphan puppy: an act of humane surrender. R.C.