The film’s downfall begins when it shifts away from the Harpers’ materialism to corporate greed. Globadyne is undone by financial scandals similar to those that have played out in recent years at Enron and Worldcom. Additionally, a few shots of President Bush speaking about “unmeasured prosperity,” loosely link the economic policies of the president with the corporate wrongdoing of Globadyne. A clip of McCallister pooh-poohing concerns about his company and employees before returning to his leisure activities echoes a clip of President Bush used by Michael Moore in "Fahrenheit 9/11." These scenes make it clear that the filmmakers are aiming for a blend of comedy and heavy-handed social commentary – an awkward hybrid that isn’t well suited to Carrey’s knack for broad, physical comedy.

On the plus side, Baldwin gives another dandy performance as a blowhard big-wig who puts his own pocketbook above the financial security of his workers, and Jenkins, who gave a strong dramatic performance earlier this year in "North Country," adds another humorous performance to his long list of comic roles.

But truth sometimes is stranger than fiction, and who can top the performances of Enron CEO Ken Lay and CFO Jeff Skilling, so well chronicled earlier this year in the excellent documentary "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room?". That film is a reminder that the real-life events that inspired this telling of "Fun With Dick and Jane," and the human misery they provoked, are still too fresh to be mocked. Unlike Dick and Jane, those who lost their livelihoods and their financial security enjoy no Hollywood ending.

For a more enjoyable comedy about the challenges of today’s corporate climate, readers could rent the delightful Dennis Quaid film "In Good Company" (2004), in which the characters aren’t cartoons, and the family angle is handled with much more sophistication and effectiveness.

AUDIENCE:  Teens and up

CAUTIONS:

• Language/Profanity:  Lord’s name taken in vain; vulgar reference to a method for a drug test; someone says “holy Hell”; other cussing.
• Drugs/Alcohol:  Frank drinks in the office; Dick gets drunk.
• Sex/Nudity:  The Harpers make plans to have sex on the weekend; Dick says his nickname is “squirt,” which “has something to do” with how he was conceived.
• Violence:  A bark collar is used on animals and humans; a boss verbally berates an employee for bringing him a kosher meal, shouting, “I’m an Episcopalian!”; Dick gets kicked between his legs; Dick has a substance thrown in his face by a woman who believes he’s about to grope her; a car smashes through a jewelry store window; Dick holds a gun on McCallister.
• Crime:  Dick runs a red light; multiple attempted robberies (usually with a squirt gun, unbeknownst to the victims); Dick takes a “slushee” from a convenience store without paying for it.
• Religion:  A woman says “I’ve been off the pipe for two years. Thank you, Jesus!” Gospel music plays on the soundtrack as the characters commit crimes.