In films like “There’s Something About Mary,” writer/directors Bobby and Peter Farrelly have shown they have the ability to make crass yet funny comedies.

Their latest project, “The Heartbreak Kid,” gets half of that formula correct – unfortunately, just the crass part.

This remake of a 1972 film written by Neil Simon is full of unlikable characters and jokes that are more disgusting than gut-busting, making it one of the meanest comedies of the year.

Ben Stiller stars as Eddie, a 40-something sporting goods salesman in San Francisco who has yet to take the plunge and commit in a relationship. Things change for Eddie when he meets Lila (Malin Akerman), an attractive woman who seems to be the perfect match.

After a quick courtship, the couple get hitched. But once they head to Mexico for their honeymoon, Eddie starts to realize Lila isn’t the woman he thought she was, and he begins to regret his decision. Eddie’s doubts are further complicated when he meets Miranda (Michelle Monaghan), a beautiful Southern lacrosse coach staying at the same resort.

There are two major problems with “The Heartbreak Kid,” and both can be pinned directly on the Farrelly brothers.

The most obvious flaw is the way the three main characters are presented. Stiller’s character is never sympathetic – in fact, he’s a total jerk who deserves to be in the predicament that he is in. I liked Miranda (and Monaghan is easily the best thing about this film), but she clearly deserves better than Eddie, so their potential romance never clicks like it should.

Then there is Lila, whose character is over-the-top embarrassing. It’s one thing for her character to have skeletons in her closet, but the script gives her a cemetery. And Lila’s behavior is so extreme once they get to Mexico that it’s unbelievable that no red flags went up prior to the marriage.

Which leads to the film’s second foot in the coffin: Lila’s character is forced to do and say things that are so crude and insensitive that I found myself feeling sorry for Akerman as an actress. There is a way to get across crude humor without crossing the line (take “Mary,” or more recent films like “Knocked Up” and “Superbad,” for example), but “Heartbreak Kid” isn’t happy to simply cross the line – it drags its audience in the muck with it.

The cast, which also includes Jerry Stiller and Carlos Mencia, deserves better. Heck, anyone willing to lay down money to see this mess deserves better.

DVD dandy of the week

This week’s dandy is “The Hoax” (B), an engaging story of fraud and manipulation starring Richard Gere.

“The Hoax” is based on actual events in the life of a would-be writer named Clifford Irving (played by Gere). As the movie begins, Irving is struggling to make ends meet after his latest novel is rejected by every publishing company imaginable. Down and desperate, Irving decides to fabricate a meeting with recluse Howard Hughes, then claims Hughes has agreed to let him write a biography.

Irving is quickly signed to a huge deal by one of the publishers that rejected his last book, but things quickly spiral out of control, with Irving struggling to stay one step ahead of his skeptics.

I’ve always felt Gere is a decent actor who is capable of being very good – when he has a strong cast around him, which is the case here. Alfred Molina is very good as his best friend who reluctantly agrees to help him with his fabrication, while the underrated Hope Davis is outstanding as the liaison between Irving and the publishing company.

“The Hoax” gets off to a sluggish start, but director Lasse Hollstram does a good job of keeping the film interesting enough that the audience feels rewarded by the time it’s over.

“The Hoax” is rated R for language and will be available on DVD on Tuesday.

— Got a question or comment for sportswriter/movie reviewer Micheal Compton? E-mail mcompton@bgdailynews.com – but ladies, please: He’s married, and he’s not called “The Heartbreak Kid” for nothing.