David Ross’ “The Babysitters” is an ugly affair masquerading as either a black comedy or, even more cynically, a peek into the misunderstood psyches of teenage girls and the middle-age men who’d love to have sex with them. An unfunny waste of at least a couple of talented actors, the movie - which opened in limited release this weekend - is too safe to be prurient and too leering to be convincing as an after-school special.

For reasons that appear to be purely monetary, a group of high-school girls transform their “baby-sitting” service into a call-girl ring catering to the lustful and disaffected dads of their charges. The 16-year-old Shirley Lyner (played by Katherine Waterston) is the waif-turned-madam whose dalliance with a client’s dad (played by John Leguizamo, also the film’s producer) earns her a guilt-inspired big tip and sparks an idea.

Justification or character motivation appears to be of little interest to writer/director Ross. The 94-minute film is on a veritable sprint to get Shirley and Michael from first handshake to forbidden kiss to copulation.

The leap from that improper tryst to Shirley enlisting her friends - and Michael lining up his - is equally speedy, with every male character over the age of 18 (including Anthony Comeau, Ethan Phillips and Adam LeFevre) more despicable than the next. The girls, who are either all business or severely damaged, aren’t much better.

Shirley, we are to understand, is working through the slings and arrows of her first love while socking away some college money (she writes the word “Trouble” on the bills, bless her moral soul) in the process. Apart from some take-charge bristling when her girls threaten to cut her out, Waterston (the daughter of “Law & Order’s” Sam Waterston) is utterly un-credible as a high-school misfit.

An even greater crime is the presence/waste of “Sex and the City’s” Cynthia Nixon, who, playing Leguizamo’s devoted but unknowing wife, interjects the film’s only bit of believability.

“We made a mess,” giggles Shirley immediately following her deflowering. Where “The Babysitters” is concerned, truer words were never spoken.

Cameron Diaz skipped a press junket for her new film, “What Happens in Vegas,” Saturday, and instead sent a handwritten letter. Ashton Kutcher delivered the note from Cam, whose father died less than two weeks ago from pneumonia.”First of all, I want to thank all of you for your support over the years,” Diaz wrote. “So many films, so many weekends discussing films. I was really looking forward to this weekend getting to talk to my friends about a film that I am so proud of.

“Due to the loss of my father, I have chosen to be with my family this weekend. But it was important for me to convey to all of you how much I love this film. We really did have the best time, and the most fun and laughs making it. I know that the stories Ashton, Rob [Corddry] and [Director] Tom [Vaughan] share with you will illustrate that point. I was fortunate to work with a group of truly gifted individuals that share the common denominator of a generous heart and wickedly sick sense of humor.”

The letter continues, “This weekend I am screening “What Happens in Vegas” for my family. It was a unanimous decision that we all needed to share a good laugh. After all, that’s why we make films like these. So people can leave behind their worries for a couple of hours. Have a good laugh.

I picture all of your smiles and it makes me happy.

Thank you for your continued support. It is much appreciated.”