Ben Stiller stars in
The movie traces the relationship of two neighbors, Tim (Stiller) and Nick (Black), after one of them becomes an instant success off of a get-rich-quick scheme. Nick's invention is called "the Vapoorizer," a device that immediately and mysteriously "vapoorizes" canine waste. You can imagine the ways that detail plays into mainstream critics' negative reviews of the film, some of which declare this as "one of the worst comedies" in recent memory.
Religious press critics agree—the film stinks.
David DiCerto (Catholic News Service) says, "Though one would naturally assume that a tag team of Stiller and Black would give one's funny bone a good work out, don't worry: There is little chance that your laugh muscles will break a sweat, let alone bust a gut."
Phil Boatwright (Movie Reporter) says, "The premise is one of the best I can remember in a film. The first hour tries and occasionally delivers a few laughs, but then the story loses momentum and the filmmakers lose faith in their parody, suddenly relying on the now common staple of movie comedy—crudity. Levinson … allows the film to drag, making it seem much longer than it really is."
Evan D. Baltz (Christian Spotlight) admits that the film made him struggle with envy … a very specific kind of envy: "I found myself being very envious of the other people coming into the theatre who were going to see other movies. If only I could be them, I thought. I was also envious of the other members of my group who saw the screening with me—envious that they walked out of the movie about 25 minutes into it and received their money back. If only I could have done the same."
Steven Isaac (
Michael Elliott (Movie Parables) saw