“A hothead and an idiot are stuck together on the open road...”

That, I imagine, was what the pitch must have sounded like for Due Date, the latest comedy by golden boy Todd Phillips (The Hangover, Old School).

Not very original or appealing, is it? Yet cast Robert Downey Jr. and Zach Galifianakis in those roles and the imagination begins to stir: what comedy magic could these two geniuses conjure, especially with Phillips at the helm?

Sadly, the answer in very little, for while there is much talent to be found in Due Date, talent just does not make up for a lack of chemistry. Or, good writing. Or, decent filmmaking. Or...get the picture?

It was inevitable that Phillips was going to hit a bump on the road. But to crash and burn with this cast riding shotgun is both shocking and unfortunate, especially considering the easy layup this Planes, Trains, and Automobiles knock off should have been.

Downey Jr. stars as Peter, a tightly wound architect trying to make his way home, where his pregnant wife (Michelle Monaghan, wasted) is about to give birth.

When an unbelievably silly scenario has him banned from flying the friendly skies, Peter has no choice but to drive cross country with aspiring actor Ethan (Zach Galifianakis), who with little pup in tow and fathers ashes in bag, is slowly making his way to “Hollywood”.

Predictably, one hellish encounter after another befalls this odd couple, usually due to Ethan’s idiocy, and often to the stunned silence of an audience waiting for anything remotely funny to happen.

That the comedy hilarity is sporadic at best comes to the fact that Due Date is one nasty piece of work, which pushes the limits of good taste and then shits on it.

Exactly why a masturbating dog or gunshot to the abdomen is needed to score a laugh is anyone’s guess. Does this movie not star Downey and Galifianakis? Didn’t Phillips direct The Hangover? (Granted a film of bad taste, but hilarious bad taste at that).

The idea of Downey playing Steve Martin to Galifianakis’ John Candy should have been a treat, but is instead akin to torture. The lack of connection between the pair is glaring, as if two comedic virtuous were stuck in an ever constant solo, and just could not get their styles to mesh.

Empathy also could not be felt for either character, Downey’s straight man in particular much to vile for us to care whether he makes it to his pregnant wife, or not.

Phillip’s lack of restraint in The Hangover brought a wild, yet funny energy. Unfortunately, that same approach makes Due Date a chaotic, humourless mess.