He might have won an Academy Award for "Jerry Maguire" in 1996, but Cuba Gooding Jr's subsequent career has been anything but Oscar-worthy.

After "Instinct" and "Men of Honor" failed to win him leading man status, he resorted to frenetic, witless pics like "Rat Race" and "Snow Dogs".

Now he stars in "Boat Trip", a gross-out romp a la the Farrelly Brothers, with a homophobic twist.

Dumped by his long-term girlfriend (Fox), partly for vomiting on her during a hot-air balloon ride, computer programmer Jerry (Gooding Jr) is inconsolable - until best pal Nick (Sanz, best known for his crass antics with French toast in "Road Trip") suggests they take a voyage on a luxury cruise for single males.

But they've already weighed anchor before they realise this particular jaunt has been arranged by "the Socrates Club for happy homos".

Stalked by leering old queen Lloyd (Moore), things look dark for the hetero duo - until Jerry meets shapely dance instructor Gabriela (Sanchez), and the ship rescues a lifeboat containing the all-girl Swedish sun-tanning team...

Short of shooting every cast member in the foot, it would be hard to imagine how this so-called comedy could be any more lame.

It's especially sad to watch ex-007 Moore, looking every one of his 74 years, degrading himself in such a vulgar shambles.

Only the inventive use of music ("Stand By Your Man", Hall and Oates' "Maneater", and the obligatory "Y.M.C.A.") hints at any genuine comic flair.