Dire, at best

Rating: Null/10 (29 August 2011)

After reading the many reviews on IMDb and other review sites, I inserted the rental DVD and began to watch, looking forward to what seemed like a good film, the reviews were certainly laudable. Early on the F* words came out along with the gratuitously vulgar dialogue, spat out from mouths of the cast as if the use of such profane talk was so common place as to be no different from 'please' and 'thank you', any element of subtlety was absent. I'm no prude and don't mind a bit of well placed strong language when it's appropriate, but this was just an assault on my ears from the get go. Rather than shock or surprise me into laughing due to, perhaps, vulgar wit, I was left trying to make sense of the often incongruous dialogue and wondering how what they'd just said fitted their character, particularly as the vulgarities were often delivered with dead pan expression.
The newer reviews on IMDb mentioned that it would be a good family film - 'one for the kids' - hardly.
The story was so-so, nothing spectacular or life changing, and not remotely endearing as some others suggested. I couldn't 'connect' with any of the characters and the 'message' was superficial. I also couldn't understand why the likable and well played protagonist had such a hard time making friends in the first place, when he seemed to be the most likable and genuine person in the film, odd.
I've watched many a buddy film, where one follows the protagonist's transition from one stage of life to the next, most were enjoyable for different reasons. I got the feeling with this film that the non-stop swear words and the spurting out of humourless vulgarities (at the family dinner table, office, changing room, card table, in the car etc etc) was to either paper over weak characterisation, an even weaker script or an even weaker storyline. I could not decide, so after 30 minutes gave into my growing urge to turn it off as it failed to appeal at any level whatsoever
One of the top ten worst films I have seen in my life, had I watched it all the way, it would probably have made the top five. What a relief to turn it off and write this review instead.