No need to 'Envy' this flick

Lately, it's been a safe bet to check out any new Jack Black or Ben Stiller flick. Who could've guessed that their most recent collaboration would not even come close to being as a funny as a fart in church? Though the idea behind the movie is pretty humorous (an invention that makes poop disappear), it simply cannot hold it together for a solid hour and a half. \nTim Dingman (Stiller) and Nick Vanderpark (Black) are best friends, neighbors and co-workers. They hang out together all the time with their respective wives, sons and daughters, that is, until Nick's unlikely invention makes him a billionaire overnight. "Vapoorizer," which makes dog poop magically disappear, becomes a huge hit -- to the dismay of Tim. \nBeing the kind friend and neighbor that he is, Nick stays in the neighborhood and brings the mansion to him. Every day on his way to and from work, Tim is forced to watch his neighbor gallop around on a white horse, ride on his merry-go-round and hit the batting cages with his son. Hence the title of the film. \nEnter Christopher Walken, who plays a helpful barfly/bum named J-Man and happens to be one of the few saving graces of the movie. Walken, who has spent his last several years in supporting roles, simply can do no wrong. \nJ-Man buys Tim drinks when he is down, makes him look good in front of his wife (Rachel Weisz) and even gets him out of trouble when he drunkenly shoots and kills Nick's horse with a bow and arrow. \nOther than those few plot points there is little more than a string of random scenes that try really hard to be funny but just cannot do it. I counted exactly five funny moments in the movie, and that's being generous. \nThe plot, which is often over-the-top, goes off on too many tangents. For instance, a large portion of the plot is devoted to Tim and his bum friend covering up the murder of Nick's horse, which really wasn't that funny to begin with, nor does it add anything to the story. \nStiller gives a pissed-off-Seinfeld impersonation and Black is completely toned down from his recent performances, and though they do the best with the script they are given, the movie fails to accomplish what it sets out to do: be funny.