YES, THEY COLLECT TV DINNERS.

Byline: Bob Strauss Film Critic

SEAN ANDERS never made a movie before ``NBT: Never Been Thawed.'' Neither he nor any of his friends who appear in the film have acted before, either. They spent something like $25,000 on this mockumentary about a bunch of young, Phoenix-area obsessives, their dorky interests and astonishing hypocrisy.

All that considered, ``NBT'' is an interesting film. It's amateurish in a lot of ways, cynical beyond belief and the we're-participating-in-a-documentary-about-ourselves format doesn't always work and sometimes makes no sense. But this exceedingly arch, if admirably poker-faced assault on everything from religion to children's hair-cutting is bold and brave. And it's just hilarious enough to overcome its limitations - and even, occasionally, make them part of its unforgiving worldview.

Anders plays Shawn, self-proclaimed leader of the Mesa Frozen Entree Enthusiasts Club. A diverse bunch of crackpots united by their interest in TV dinners (Shawn runs 14 full-size freezers in his one-bedroom apartment to preserve his collection), the group is struggling both internally and externally to stage a convention dedicated to their hobby.

Other members include Shawn's childhood friend Al (Allen Zwole), who still lives with his parents in their retirement community and has a demeaning job as a ``smilist'' at Klown Kuts, a chain salon in which all the hairdressers wear Bozo makeup and earn bonuses for juggling.

Al is infatuated with Shelly (Shelly Frasier), who only has eyes for narcissistic Shawn. It doesn't matter much anyway, since Shelly's an overripe virgin who works the crisis hotline at the William Jefferson Clinton Abstinence Center. As shy Al's dismissive brother tells him, he shouldn't be afraid to make a play for Shelly since she's ``totally in your league.''

Shelly isn't the only Christian bashed here. A mercenary entrepreneur runs the No Choice Cafe, a kind of Starbucks for abortion clinic protesters, and manages Shawn's band the Christers, a punk outfit that has turned to Jesus rock because there's more money in it. Their foul-mouthed, homophobic, thrash-praise tunes are pretty good. For the genre.

You may have surmised that nothing is sacred in ``NBT.'' The whole point of its humor seems to be that taking any enthusiasm too seriously goes against natural - or, at least, healthy - human impulses. There have been comparisons to ``Napoleon Dynamite'' and Christopher Guest's mocks, such as ``Best in Show.'' ``NBT'' is neither as well-targeted nor as polished as those films, but it is fiercer. The advertising tag line is, ``What's your subculture?'' The movie's emphasis is far more on sub than culture.

Stay through the end credits, if you make it that far.

Bob Strauss, [phone]

bob.strauss(at)dailynews.com

NBT: NEVER BEEN THAWED - Three stars

(Not rated: language, drug use, adult situations)

Starring: Sean Anders, Allen Zwolle, Shelly Frasier.

Director: Sean Anders.

Running time: 1 hr. 27 min.

Playing: Landmark's Nuart, West Los Angeles.

In a nutshell: No-budget satire of collecting, religion and other subcultures is pretty hard-edged and subtly hilarious, although its maker's lack of experience is often evident.