Oh will it never end? This resolutely unfunny film tries desperately to be tasteless, but it ends up embarrassingly stupid on every level. It's only watchable because of the promise of the cast. You keep expecting Black and Zahn to dig up something funny somewhere, you hope Biggs' considerable charms will win you over, and you think Peet might cut loose and really bring her character to life as she has done in the past. And there's even a certain curiosity value to Ermey's casting--a high school coach twist on his Full Metal Jacket drill-sergeant-from-hell role. But no, besides tiny little asides here and there, nothing ever works. The story drags along, never finding any pace or energy. The comedy wobbles between flat lifelessness and crossing-the-line tastelessness. It's just awful in every way, and I can't quite figure out why, almost a full year after its US release, they're even bothering to distribute it in the UK (changed title or not). And what is Diamond doing here, for heaven's sake? Didn't he read the script?

themes, vulgarity, nudity, language

8.Jan.02