2001, 1 hr 40 min., Rated PG-13 for sexual references, crude humor, partial nudity and language.�Dir: Jerry Zucker. Cast: Breckin Meyer, Amy Smart, Whoopi Goldberg, Lanei Chapman (Merrill), Seth Green, Vince Vieluf, Cuba Gooding Jr., Jon Lovitz, Kathy Najimy, Rowan Atkinson, John Cleese.

I've been in the mood for silly comedies, lately. Could you recommend one? I'm finding the pickings slim this summer, and while Rat Race really wants to be just what I ordered, in the end I would return it to the kitchen as being overcooked.

Produced by the Zuckers of Airplane! and Naked Gun fame, two of my favorite slapstick comedies of all time, I think they've lost their touch. While the comedy in those two came fast and furious, seemingly naturally, for their latest endeavor the Zuckers are noticeably trying too hard. They telegraph the jokes far ahead and then let them linger when I want zingers that are gutbusters and frequent.

Actually, many of the funnier bits did put a smile on my face, when I saw them all in the trailer for the last two months.

The best part comes from Monty Python veteran John Cleese as an eccentric casino owner who comes up with the game, a mad dash from Vegas to a locker in New Mexico that contains $2 million.

As for the rest of the cast, the good includes Breckin Meyer, Amy Smart, Rowan Atkinson, Seth Green and Kathy Najimy (I don't know why, but even in lame crap like "Veronica's Closet" I've liked her). The bad consists mainly of Whoopi Goldberg (who thankfully gets very little to do her), Jon Lovitz and unfortunately Cuba Gooding, Jr., who is really picking some below-par scripts lately.

There are a lot of overblown stunts, crashes, chases and amusing bits and pieces, but when it's all said and done, the overdone hijinks bring down the overall combo meal. It's gamy, not filling.

The verdict:

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