Rod is the not-so-hot and not-too-legitimate son of Evel Knievel's late test-rider, currently in training for the stunt of his young life: a benefit jump over 15 school buses to raise $50,000 for his stepfather's life-saving heart transplant.

Never mind that he plans to do the jump on a moped, and that he hates his stepdad's guts. A stuntman's gotta do what a stuntman's gotta do in an overwrought, underthought comedy called "Hot Rod," the latest such vehicle souped up for a "Saturday Night Live" crossover-hopeful.

Will Ferrell was reportedly interested in the idea, vaguely akin to "Talladega Nights," but wisely stepped aside in time, leaving this slapstick crash-magnet role to his younger "SNL" colleague, Andy Samberg -- an Adam Sandler wannabe still in search of his own original style.

	James Dittiger Andy Samberg is Rod Kimble in "Hot Rod." Click photo for larger image. "Hot Rod" Director: Akiva Schaffer Starring: Andy Samberg, Isla Fisher, Sissy Spacek, Ian McShane Rating: PG-13 for crude humor, language, comic drug-related and violent content Web site: http://www.hotrodmovie.com/ Related story Family Film Guide

Screenwriter Pam Brady doesn't help him find it. Her script isn't lame, it's paraplegic, relying on Samberg's inchoate sex appeal (with fake moustache, he looks like Frank Zappa) and the recycling of "Napoleon Dynamite" gags. Jon Heder's elaborate bicycle jump, resulting in a spectacular nosedive? "Hot Rod" and Samberg repeat it ad infinitum.

Rod's misfit "crew" includes half-brother Kevin (Jorma Taccone), who sings to his stuffed animals. Taccone, Samberg and director Akiva Schaffer made this flick between the 2006-07 seasons of "Saturday Night Live." Filming started July 24 and wrapped on Sept. 23. The trio reported back to "SNL" on Sept. 25.

You get what your vacation check pays for.

Sissy Spacek (looking uncannily like Shirley MacLaine these days) as Rod's mom and Isla Fisher ("Wedding Crashers") as his cardboard love interest are equally wasted, while Ian McShane fares better as the absurdly abusive stepfather.

There are two truly funny sequences: a "Cool Beans" rap routine and a "punch dancing" sports-prep parody in the forest, culminating in Rod's endless fall down an endlessly steep hill.

I'm not a big blogger, but perusing this movie's sites, I checked out a message-board entry headed, "Which do you think will be funnier -- 'Hot Rod' or 'Superbad'?" Best response was from a guy who answered, "The Passion of the Christ."