Coogan is stunning in his commitment to the character of Dana Marschz (pronounced, he insists, “MAR-ss-shh-zuh”). This man is many things: struggling actor, idiotic playwright, terrible husband and appalling educator.

The answer: Occasional hilarity. Very occasional. Rainn Wilson stars as Robert “Fish” Fishman, who in 1986 was kicked out of Vesuvius, a Cleveland hair-metal powerhouse on the verge of world domination. He never recovered from the indignity.

It’s been a long summer. Who’s ready for a non-franchise, non-superhero inspired movie that will tug at your heartstrings, make you laugh and restore (or reaffirm) your faith in the nation’s youth? If your hand is in the air, report directly to American Teen,.

Our monthly viewing from the Judd Apatow collection is another late-summer romp from writers Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, who scored a left-field hit this time last year with Superbad.

First, let me emphasize that I understand writing a political comedy, especially for the United States in 2008, must be difficult. Good comedy is hard on its own; toss in thorny political and social issues and you’ve got a near-impossible balancing act. So Swing Vote’s horrible failure is at least understandable.

Along the way, they'll contend with relationship difficulties between Hellboy and his girlfriend, Liz (Selma Blair); a new love interest for egghead fish-man Abe Sapien (Doug Jones); and the introduction of a brilliantly-conceived, entirely gaseous team leader voiced by Family Guy Seth McFarlane.