Dane Cook plays himself

Dane Cook has finally found a role that allows him to do what he does best: act like a big asshole.

Following his supporting stints in “Waiting,” “Mr. Brooks,” and “Dan in Real Life,” and his epic failure in “Good Luck Chuck,” this is the closest Cook has come to exercising his stand up comedy skills in film. For fans of Cook, it is the cinematic prime of his comedic essence.

Tank (Cook) has it made. He sells air purifiers (“The beauty is, no one can prove it doesn’t work”) and is the go-to guy for any guy trying to win back his girlfriend. Tank’s routine is to take the girls on the worst date of their lives, after which they go running back to their ex.

And he’s good at it, because he’s an asshole. When Tank’s roommate and best friend Dustin (Jason Biggs) loses his new flame (Kate Hudson), Dustin solicits Tank for the mother of all bombs. It goes perfectly, until he falls for her.

Biggs plays the counterpart to Cook’s blatant disregard for relationships and political correctness. His role as the love-struck super-nice guy makes for a far too one-dimensional portrayal that lacks believability.

Everyone knows Tank is a wise-ass jerk, but it’s difficult to digest any guy really being that nice and forgiving a friend for stealing his girl.

Kate Hudson, who has taken over Drew Barrymore’s position as the queen of romantic comedy, is not at her best here either.
 
In a brilliant and hilarious supporting role, Alec Baldwin plays Professor Turner, Tank’s dad, who is more set on screwing chicks than being a father figure.

Baldwin’s presence gives the film credibility, and he is able to match wits with Cook’s raunchy humor. Baldwin’s initial gut-wrenching monologue steals the movie.

The beauty of “My Best Friend’s Girl” is that it’s a romantic comedy with not much sap and more interest in all-out dirty humor.

Director Howard Deutch wisely lets his actors improvise key comedic scenes, and although the film has much to say about contemporary relationships, it will appeal just as much, if not more, to men than women.