Los Angeles' tourism industry must really get irked by movies like Waist Deep, another urban actioner to paint the City of Angels as a crime-infested jungle where any Hummer rumbling along the freeway is likely to contain hoodlums armed with assault rifles and bad attitudes.

But all is not lost. What director and co-writer Vondie Curtis-Hall lacks in subtlety, he makes up for in style and adrenaline. As exploitation flicks go, Waist Deep succeeds largely because it's under no delusion of being anything other than junky, B-movie fun.

Tyrese Gibson stars as O2, an ex-gangbanger recently released from prison and determined to get on the straight and narrow for the sake of his young son, Junior (played by H. Hunter Hall, the director's son). In a high-octane opening, O2 is cruising in his convertible through South-Central L.A. when he is carjacked -- with Junior curled up asleep in the backseat. A bullet-riddled shootout ensues, but the carjackers flee with the boy. Since a gun-a-blazin' O2 constitutes a significant parole violation, our tough-guy hero is unable to seek help from police.

Options limited, 02 enlists the aid of a smokin'-hot hustler named Coco (Meagan Good), who was peripherally involved in the carjacking. The pair discovers that Junior is being held by crime boss Big Meat (rapper The Game), a vicious gangsta whose weapon of choice is a machete he uses to lop body parts off his enemies. Meat demands that O2 pony up $100,000 within 48 hours if he wants his son back with all appendages attached.

As a result, 02 and Coco hit the mean streets of L.A. for a quickie series of heists and bank robberies. All the while, the ridiculously attractive duo executes their crime spree amid citywide rallies denouncing gang violence.

This is all lowbrow stuff, but Curtis-Hall delivers the goods with energy and panache, acquitting himself (almost) for Mariah Carey's 2001 stink-bomb, Glitter. Cinephiles wanting hidden subtext should look elsewhere, but Waist Deep scores points for its deft atmospherics and injecting its lunkhead story with enough stylistic touches -- jagged editing, extreme close-ups, handheld camerawork -- to cause nosebleeds.

Still, Waist Deep occasionally jumps that line from the stylish to the stupid. The director's penchant for close-ups and jump cuts can undermine the action. Even more unfortunate is an ending that can be described as nothing short of moronic.

What keeps Waist Deep afloat is the charisma of its two leads. Model-turned-singer-turned-actor Gibson has a commanding onscreen presence, nicely blending paternal protectiveness with lethal rage. Meagan Good, aside from being off-the-charts sexy, demonstrates a flair for light comedy. She steals plenty of scenes, and not (just) because her wardrobe is appropriately skimpy.

Presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen, Waist Deep has a raw, gritty, oversaturated look that is beautifully captured in the print transfer. There are no noticeable defects such as edge enhancement or artifacts. All in all, the picture quality is excellent.

The Dolby Digital 5.1 boasts a big, full sound that does the job – but isn't quite as aggressively dramatic as you would expect. Subtitles are available in Spanish, French and English for the hearing-impaired.

Analysis of a Scene explores how the filmmakers choreographed what is arguably Waist Deep's best scene, the carjacking that sets everything else in motion. Not exactly illuminating but certainly watchable, the four-minute, 50-second featurette includes interviews with Curtis-Hall, Gibson and cinematographer Shane Hurlbut.

For a more interesting behind-the-scenes glimpse of movie magic, the seven-minute, 40-second Drive-by Filmmaking examines the difficulties of shooting speeding cars. It becomes evident that director of photography Shane Hurlbut was a major creative force in the flick.

The DVD also includes 13 minutes of five deleted scenes and two sets of outtakes, all of which could have remained unseen and the world would still spin on its axis. Rounding out the supplemental material is a throwaway Black Buddafly music video for "Bad Girl."

If there is any justice in Hollywood, Tyrese Gibson and Meagan Good should be destined for major stardom. While Waist Deep benefits from several hypercaffeinated action scenes, it is the stars' combined charisma that really gives the film its heft.