Wayne LeFessier (Steve Zahn), J.D. McNugent (Jack Black), and Darren Silverman (Jason Biggs) are childhood best friends Neil Diamond fanatics. Wayne was the third string high school quarterback. J.D. was the idiot mascot. Darren was a hopelessly romantic male cheerleader pining for fellow cheerleader Sandy (Amanda Detmer). Psychologist Judith (Amanda Peet) is bitchy and has Darren wrapped around her finger. She forbids him from hanging with his two loser friends. In desperation, they kidnap her to stop their wedding. Sandy comes back into their lives. She lost her love Luigi in a trapeze accident and is going into the nunnery.
It's surprising that these three comedy stars couldn't do better. Amanda Peet is not the best at playing the bitch. That's one of its big problems. She doesn't really give the audience permission to root for the two idiots. The Steve Zahn, Jack Black duo have some good bumbling fun. Eventually Peet does get angry enough to be funny. Director Dennis Dugan had made a couple of Adam Sandler movies before this and this has very similar sensibilities. Sadly he has continued to follow Adam Sandler as they both slide into the comedy wilderness.
It's surprising that these three comedy stars couldn't do better. Amanda Peet is not the best at playing the bitch. That's one of its big problems. She doesn't really give the audience permission to root for the two idiots. The Steve Zahn, Jack Black duo have some good bumbling fun. Eventually Peet does get angry enough to be funny. Director Dennis Dugan had made a couple of Adam Sandler movies before this and this has very similar sensibilities. Sadly he has continued to follow Adam Sandler as they both slide into the comedy wilderness.