Ironically, "Hot Rod" symbolizes everything that's been wrong with "Saturday Night Live" for about the last two decades.

First of all, the movie stars Andy Samberg, whose name is sort of vaguely familiar to me, kind of like the second-string quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts whose name, if I heard it in casual conversation, I would probably associate with sports in general. I mean, does anybody remember back in the day when we all hung out waiting in line for that awesome movie starring Garrett Morris? I didn't think so.

The bar for comedy success in "Hot Rod" is so low it might as well be rolling on the ground. Samberg plays Rod Kimble, a wannabe stuntman whose only talent consists of unbridled enthusiasm for trying grade C stunts that never work. He tries to jump a van. He tries to set himself on fire. He tries to hold his breath underwater. He tries to woo his neighbor, Denise (Isla Fisher). It's all supposed to be funny because he can't do any of these things and Samberg and pals then reminisce about his attempts like mentally challenged folks talking politics.

"Hot Rod" achieves comedy gold when Kimble retreats to the forest in a sort of "Flashdance"-like interlude and then tumbles down a hill for about 30 seconds. Yes, it's not exactly Bill Murray in "Caddyshack." Frankly, it's not even Adam Sandler in "Mr. Deeds." It's more like Julia Sweeney in "It's Pat." Let me put it this way: Kimble's motivation for trying to perform stunts is to raise enough money to get his stepfather (Ian McShane) a heart transplant so he can then kick his ass. Really, that's the kind of strong comedy plotting that used to require a dedicated team of writers to spend weeks secluded from humanity to invent.

As "Hot Rod" tries to achieve humor by not being funny -- essentially, by being over-the-top in its simple-mindedness -- it nearly ceases to exist. It might be an experiment in existentialism. Then again, it might not. Have you ever been engaged in a conversation when a third person, who you don't know, walks up and pretends to be a part of the conversation but never actually says anything? "Hot Rod" is like that weirdo.

Crashing and burning is part of "Hot Rod" in more ways than one.