\'Rat Race\' not trophy winner

\"Rat Race" features a star-filled cast with Oscar winners Cuba Gooding Jr. and Whoopie Goldberg; comedian Jon Lovitz; Dr. Evil's son, a.k.a. Seth Green; Road Trip Alumns Breckin Meyer and Amy Smart; and finally Mr. Bean himself; Rowan Atkinson. Edit in Jerry Zucker ("Naked Gun," "Police Squad," "Airplane") as director and the movie should have raced to the top of the box office. But with predictable, only sometimes funny jokes and a drawn out, stupid ending, "Rat Race" falls just short of the finish line. \nEight people win special gold coins from the slot machines in Vegas. The coin invites each winner to a luncheon where the casino owner (played by Monty Python's John Cleese) presents the winners with a chance to win $2 million. Whoever reaches a bus station locker in New Mexico first wins the money, and there are no rules. Meanwhile, Cleese monitors each contestant from a distance as he and other high-rollers place bets on who will win.\nOf course this scenario presents plenty of opportunities for the contestants to find hilarious modes of transportation, then run the vehicles off the road into ridiculous situations such as a Monster Truck Rally. In fact this is really the basis for most jokes in "Rat Race." Recycled scenarios with changed factors hurt this movie most, but admittedly are occasionally successful with the right actors.\nLovitz, Atkinson and Cleese are the only truly comedic actors in "Rat Race," and their scenes prove their comedic success. (Seriously, Goldberg is not a comedic actress, "Sister Act" and "Made in America" do not count as true comedy.) Lovitz's character is responsible for most of the laughs in the movie as he and his Jewish family have repeated run-ins with Nazis. Atkinson plays a French narcoleptic, falling asleep in mid-stride during the movie. Much like Mr. Bean, Atkinson brings comedy to his character without speaking much. Finally, Cleese and the high rollers find a string of hilarious, creative activities to bet on, such as name the hooker's price, and which maid can hang from a rope the longest.\nThough "Rat Race" has its moments, in many parts it drags and wades in mediocre comedy. Maybe Jerry should have called in his brother to help him out with this one.