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Fox Searchlight, high on the Broken Lizard brand, released the dreadful serial killer comedy, Club Dread, exactly two years later. The momentum failed to carry, as that film made exactly $5 million overall, less than Troopers’ opening weekend.

In 2006, WB took over distribution, releasing Beerfest to nearly $20 million, showing a verge of a comeback. However, their latest film (which was released by Anchor Bay – an offshoot of Starz), The Slammin’ Salmon was shoved under the carpet, opening in 11 theaters, winding up with only $40,000. This seemed to put an end, at least theatrically, to the Broken Lizard seal.

Super Troopers' first scene has potential, as the officers pull over potheads on the highway in a series of events that somehow end up in a high-speed chase. While this could have been a perfectly funny skit, the improved nature of sketch comedy rarely translates well to film. Skits have little character development, no clear beginning or end, and are revolved around one joke. While this works in short form, translating the same concept to a hundred or so minutes surely will result in failure (Just look at this summer’s MacGruber. It was such a bomb, not even the titular character could have diffused it).

This film had me longing for the Harold and Kumar series that offers the same type of irreverent humor, but unlike Super Troopers, has characters and a goal that are clear and worth caring about. In this film, we are left with a mess. Characters come and go. The jokes rarely hit their target. Or maybe I just don’t see any humor in people randomly chugging maple syrup? If you can explain why I am supposed to laugh, please, shoot me an email of enlightenment.

Comedy is the hardest thing to analyze. While drama is very straightforward, comedy is subjective across cultures. My suitemate in college loves Conan O’Brien and will be watching his new show every night. I prefer the more lowbrow and satirical comedy styling that Chelsea Handler brings with her round table of comedians on Chelsea Lately (let the war of the remote begin). I will not go in-depth analyzing the humor since I realize the Broken Lizard series has a fan niche and the 6.8 rating on IMDb Super Troopers holds, proves that I am in the minority. But analyzing this as a film, it still does not hold up. The plot is non-existent; the characters are unlikable train wrecks, and the “jokes” (to me) were just not funny at all. Maybe if I was drunk and stoned with a “fuck the police attitude” the film might have made me laugh but I was neither one of those three at the time of viewing.

Super Troopers used to be played in regular rotation on Comedy Central, but has been replaced by other new spoof movies (who else saw last week’s Scary Movie marathon?). Broken Lizard seems to have lost their following. Even their recently announced foray back into theaters, Super Troopers 2 (God help us all), is having trouble getting off the ground. Super Troopers is not with us for these reasons and more. The movie seems to have made its way to the bargain bin, ignored for newer and better raunchy comedies.

Super Troopers is a mess straight and simple. While it is nice to get the feeling that the cast is having fun (Ocean’s Eleven), it isn’t nice when the audience does not partake in the amusement, too (Ocean’s Twelve). Jay Chandrasekhar can smirk at the camera all he wants, but he should have something proud to smirk about first.

Verdict: Not With Us
1 out of 10

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