ADVENTURE ON THE RUN IN 'NED KELLY'.

Byline: Glenn Whipp Film Critic

'NED KELLY'' likes its heroes simple, its martyrs brave and its women subservient. It's entirely watchable when it isn't so dead-set determined to heap on the hero worship or when its action scenes are competing with its score in a game of one-upmanship over which one can pummel you with greater authority. (Verdict: a dead heat.)

It's certainly a lot more fun than Tony Richardson's lethargic 1970 film of the same name, which improbably starred Mick Jagger and would inspire at least 19 nervous breakdowns if one could work up the interest. Director Gregor Jordan (``Buffalo Soldiers'') seems to want nothing more than to make an Aussie ``Braveheart,'' and there are certainly worse things to aspire to, even if Heath Ledger will never rival Mel Gibson's ability for making excruciating suffering look so saintly.

The title character was Australia's answer to Robin Hood in the 19th century, an outlaw of the people, unjustly accused, universally loved and hopelessly charming. Ned (Ledger) and his Irish immigrant family are routinely harassed by the Victorian English police, culminating when mother and son are unjustly charged for attempted murder.

Ned has an alibi. He was making hay with the wife (Naomi Watts in a small, undistinguished role) of a wealthy Englishman on the night in question, but, for obvious reasons, she can't vouch for his whereabouts. This sends Ned, his younger brother (Laurence Kinlan) and his best mates, Joe (Orlando Bloom) and Steve (Philip Barantini) on the run, where they encounter all sorts of trouble and achieve enough notoriety to warrant the enlistment of a famous, formidable superintendent (Geoffrey Rush) to bring them to justice.

As grave as many of the injustices are, the film doesn't lack for humor, as when Ned and his mates run into a former classmate during a bank robbery. Jordan stages the action scenes with energy and aplomb; when his heroes dive headlong into mythology, they do it with gusto and plenty of ammunition. And the charismatic Bloom, playing Kelly's right-hand man, demonstrates why he has become a bigger star than headliner Ledger.

Sure, you might wish that Jordan had eased up on the heavy-handed nature symbolism and that screenwriter John Michael McDonagh had given Kelly a few more wrinkles. You might also find it curious (and somewhat offensive) that every woman in the movie wants to bed Ned and his buddies, no matter what their marital status. And when Watts asks Ledger, ``What will it take to get you to save yourself, Ned?'' you might grimace and wonder why every doomed hero has to be turned into Jesus.

Fine concerns, one and all, and obviously ones that the filmmakers don't really want you considering while the fur is flying. Depending, then, on your ability to cast aside your thinking cap, ``Ned Kelly'' might suffice as a popcorn hero, although I'd imagine you'd feel better about him (and your financial investment) if you're popping your own corn and watching him in the comfort of your own home.

Glenn Whipp, [phone]

glenn.whipp(at)dailynews.com

NED KELLY - Two and one half stars

(R: violence and brief nudity)

Starring: Heath Ledger, Orlando Bloom.

Director: Gregor Jordan.

Running time: 1 hr. 50 min.

Playing: Arclight in Hollywood; Loews Cineplex Beverly Center in Los Angeles.

In a nutshell: Simplistic but sometimes rousing telling of the story of an Aussie outlaw.

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Heath Ledger is the Aussie title character, a Robin Hood-like charmer, in ``Ned Kelly.''