Tripe, drivel, rubbish, crap, dross, whatever you call it, it's still the same thing. This film missed the genuine sparkle contained within the book, which was a silly story about a silly person doing something silly. I've (obviously) read the book, and loved it! This tries much too hard to be funny, and as a result, falls flat. Tony Hawks' comedy is minutely observational, and can be cripplingly funny (see his website), so you would imagine he'd be a gifted scriptwriter. This steaming pile, however, is didacticism at its worst. Pity he didn't get his pal, Arthur Smith involved!.. I managed a whole hour, but it felt much longer. It started slow (not a bad thing), and slowed down! TH's career has stalled recently, so I guess this was a way to pay the mortgage!..Turn over, and watch the weather channel instead, it would certainly be more instructive, and may even be funnier!..Better still, read the book!..Here's hoping his next project, an adaptation of another of his books, 'Playing the Moldovans' at Tennis is better...