Charles Swann (Sheen) uses rather a lot more of his brain to think about sex than the average man does. Then his girlfriend Ivana (Winnick) leaves him, which leaves him unable to think about anyone else. He's also fairly sure that she's trying to kill him. His best friend Kirby (Schwartzman) is a stand-up comic, and his sister Izzy (Arquette) visits him with her boisterous young sons. And then there's Saul (Murray), whose 22-year marriage is falling apart.

In sketch-comedy style, the story is told in a series of flashbacks and corny fantasy sequences. It's fractured, stylised, dark and probably a bit too cool, which makes it very difficult to experience any of the emotions. But then everything is played for comical value, even if it's absurdist humour that doesn't actually make you laugh. A dream-sequence dance sequence with his exes at his funeral is a bit much. Although that's almost sensible compared to an encounter with a group of hot-babe Native Americans.

Charles and his friends drive achingly cool vintage cars, although Charles ends up reversing his own classic Cadillac off a cliff into a swimming pool. Yes, much this story of a life spiralling out of control seems to come straight from Sheen's own experiences. Many of the character's antics replay things we've read in gossip columns, from reckless womanising to rampant alcohol abuse. Although oddly, for a man so preoccupied by sex, there isn't any in the story.

Even though the film lacks coherence, the cast keeps it watchable. A beardy, afroed Schwartzman gives a nicely offhanded turn, as do the starry bit players. And Sheen's timing is spot-on as usual. But as the character's obsessive wallowing takes over, he loses our sympathy. We never understand why Ivana more important to him than the other girls, except that she has dared to leave him. So his emotions aren't remotely believable. And neither is his renaissance man act.

themes, language, nudity

3.Feb.13