DVD Review: “My Best Friend’s Girl”

Rating: 12 

Judd Apatow reinvented frat-boy comedy by giving his characters real human situations and responsibilities with which to grapple, which is precisely why “My Best Friend’s Girl,” ostensibly marketed to the same audience, is such an exhausting disaster. If Apatow had made this odious film instead of Howard Deutch, all the stomach-churning, wall-to-wall misogyny would have context and consequences.

Dane Cook stars as Tank, a man who sells his services to just-dumped men as a worst-case dating scenario. He takes these men’s exes on execrable dates that usually involve serenades from 2 Live Crew, food poisoning and cascades of insults. But then Tank’s services are employed by his milquetoast roommate Dustin (Jason Biggs), who cannot seem to move his relationship with Alexis (Kate Hudson) beyond friend status. Alexis gives as good as she gets, and Tank — big news, here — develops feelings for her.