ROAMING THE WILDS OF TEENAGE WASTELAND.

Byline: Bob Strauss Film Critic

IN THE big-screen after-school special ``How to Deal,'' Mandy Moore's Halley Martin discovers that love can be difficult but is probably worthwhile in the long run.

This does not make for much of a movie. But it means well. Even if there are elements of wish-fulfilling fantasy sprinkled throughout the movie's scenario, at least Halley doesn't find out she's really a European princess or become an Italian pop star. Despite too much reliance on melodramatic plot lines, the filmmakers do make an effort to keep things real. Not very deep, but within the realm of probability.

The film is at its best when emphasizing smart teen cynicism (one of the characters spends a good deal of time in a T-shirt emblazoned with the word ``sarcasm''). Credit screenwriter Neena Beber, a veteran of MTV's sharp animated series ``Daria,'' with that. ``Deal's'' story comes from two novels by Sarah Dessen, ``Someone Like You'' and ``That Summer.''

On the day 17-year-old Halley's parents get divorced, her older sister Ashley (Mary Catherine Garrison) announces her engagement to a rich boy from the South whom she's always fighting with (the Martins live in generic, Canada-substituting-for-small-town-America).

Mom Lydia (Allison Janney) is understandably bitter; the fine actress is saddled with cliched scenes that have her chopping phallic vegetables while complaining about men. But Dad is drawn even worse; he's a soul-patched ``soft rock'' DJ (cartoonishly portrayed by Peter Gallagher) who has left his wife for his station's young traffic bimbo.

Then there's Halley's best friend, Scarlett (Alexandra Holden, winningly sweet while emotionally convincing). They'd made a pact not to lose their heads over boys, but Scarlett does just that, and there are alarming consequences.

Anyway, one boy at school, Macon Forrester (Trent Ford), takes a shine to Halley. He's just offbeat and rebellious enough to complement her own world-sucks view, making him appealing good friend and make-out buddy material. But when it looks like feelings between them may become too serious, Halley pulls back. Then one of those aforementioned melodramatic coincidences makes things worse, until another inevitably comes along to set matters right.

Not helpful are some kooky side characters, such as the Civil War re-enactor (Dylan Baker) sent to save Lydia's love life and the sisters' pot-smoking granny, whom the great Nina Foch does as much with as is possible.

But nothing too great is possible under the direction of Clare Kilner, a British commercial maker with one other feature (the reportedly well-received ``Janice Beard: 45 Words Per Minute'') under her belt. She displays very little knack for cinematic staging or timing on ``How to Deal,'' and whatever gets a laugh, a heart tug or a knowing nod in the movie seems purely the work of the screenwriter and the individual actors on lucky days.

Still, nicely maturing pop tart Moore carries the film effectively and intelligently enough, and Ford and Holden regularly transcend the sit-soap nature of the material. These young actors are ready for something they can really deal with.

Bob Strauss, [phone]

bob.strauss(at)dailynews.com

HOW TO DEAL - Two and one half stars

(PG-13: language, sex, drug use)

Starring: Mandy Moore, Allison Janney, Trent Ford, Mary Catherine Garrison, Alexandra Holden, Peter Gallagher, Nina Foch, Dylan Baker.

Director: Clare Kilner.

Running time: 1 hr. 41 min.

Playing: Wide release.

In a nutshell: Well-meaning, if superficial, teenage girl's coming-of-age story.

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Mandy Moore has all she can handle with a broken family and a confusing love life in ``How to Deal.''