The Rocket

Issue date: 9/28/07 Section: Focus

Media Credit: MCT Campus Jessica Alba as "Cam" and Dane Cook as "Charlie" star in the comedy "Good Luck Chuck." [Click to enlarge]

This summer saw the return of the R-rated comedy, with remarkably raunchy yet charming films like "Knocked Up" and "Superbad" banking more than $100 million each.

But even with Dane Cook as its lucky charm, "Good Luck Chuck" falls short of this year's earlier risqué achievements.

Last year's "Employee of the Month" gave Cook his first big leading role, but left him little room to supply his brand of humor with a PG-13 rating.

"Chuck" offers Cook a second chance at romantic-comedy gold with what appeared to be a winning formula.

"Chuck" is R-rated, opening the door for all of those beautiful four-letter words fans have come accustomed to hearing Cook spout out, as well as a great deal of sexual content.

Now, there is a Jessica playing Cook's love interest, but unlike "Employee," it's not the dim-witted Simpson.

Playing the stumbling, bumbling Cam is Jessica Alba.

So with a more fitting rating and a more talented co-star, what went wrong?

While normally Alba wouldn't have to do much to entertain, in "Chuck" she is doing too much in her role.

Her character is this klutz of a woman that Alba plays as desperate one minute and stuck-up the next.

Still, Alba's awkward performance wasn't the worst of the film. Playing Cook's best friend in the film is "Balls of Fury" star Dan Fogler.

Coming out of nowhere to star in two films this month, Fogler's budding career doesn't show much promise right now.

First there was "Balls," a comedy about illegal underground pingpong that was shoved down moviegoers' throats by more than a year of promotional spots. Then, there is the monstrosity of a performance he gives in "Chuck."

Fogler plays Stu, a breast enhancement surgeon creepily addicted to his profession. There hasn't been a character as annoying as Stu since "The Nanny" was cancelled.

Stu annoyingly yells failed joke after failed joke to convince Chuck to buy into a rumor that any woman who becomes intimate with Chuck will find true love with the next guy she dates.

The noble Chuck needed a slime-ball buddy to drive him to indulge the rumor, but Fogler took the part and nearly killed the entire film.

Fogler is like a dumber, more socially inept version of Curtis Armstrong's "Booger" from the "Revenge of the Nerds" films.

Aside from the questionable acting, "Chuck" had the potential to tell a decent story about the desperation many people feel about finding love.

When the biological clock is ticking, to what lengths will people go to find their soul mate?

Unfortunately, potential doesn't buy groceries.

The filmmakers just didn't execute on what could have been the next big R-rated comedy and possibly a launching pad to Cook's somewhat-stagnant film career.

It's hard not to feel sympathy for Cook. He was the best thing this film had to offer.

The extremely graphic scenes seemed to be a perfect fit for Cook, and "Chuck's" R-rated script naturally flowed out of his mouth unlike the bubble-gummy "Employee of the Month" dribble.

If Cook found his way into one of the smart, well-executed projects by Judd Apatow ("Knocked Up"), his film career could get a much-needed boost.

"Good Luck Chuck" could be a good date movie, if your movie dates involve engaging in activities that would make you miss 75 percent of the film.

There are a few good laughs and some decent ideas mixed in with the failed jokes and awkward situations, but it's still a DVD rent at best.

Let's just hope Cook finds some better material before his luck runs out.

Ivan Moore is a senior communication major and a regular contributor to The Rocket.

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