're treading water at best in this forgettable effort 
(ROOT (VP (VBP 're) (VP (VBG treading) (NP (NN water)) (ADVP (IN at) (JJS best)) (PP (IN in) (NP (DT this) (JJ forgettable) (NN effort))))))
(ROOT (VP (VBP ) (VP (VBG ) (NP (NN )) (ADVP (IN ) (JJS )) (PP (IN ) (NP (DT ) (JJ ) (NN ))))))