by SARAH ROWLAND

Thank You for Smoking sets itself up as the kind of movie where making jokes at the expense of a balding chemo kid is fair game—but then it doesn’t even have the decency to follow through with an emphysema gag or two. Instead, it tries to work in some moral lessons on what it means to be a good parent.

Based on Christopher Buckley’s book, this cancer comedy features Aaron Eckhart as Nick Naylor, a ruthless tobacco lobbyist by day and a devoted single dad by night. Inspired by the likes of Lauren “got a light?” Bacall, Nick wants to make smoking in movies cool again—the logic being this will boost butt sales among teens.

And just check out the all-star cast he’s up against: Rob Lowe is the Hollywood super agent willing to make his clients light up on screen in exchange for millions of dollars; Katie Holmes is the seductive (and poorly cast) Washington Post reporter, who is more than willing to spread her legs if it means seeing her byline on the front page. William H. Macy plays a U.S. senator/environmentalist “pussy,” who wants to put a huge skull-and-crossbones warning sign on all ciggy packs. Sam Elliott is the cancer-riddled Marlboro Man. Maria Bello and David Koechner are fellow “merchants of death” spin doctors—alcohol and firearms, respectively. And Robert Duvall is the eccentric Southern tobacco baron pulling all the strings whilst merrily downing his mint juleps.

But despite all the big names, director Jason Reitman (son of Ivan, who directed Ghostbusters, Stripes and other Bill Murray specials) cops out on the opportunity to make a truly dark comedy. The bonding moments between Nick and his 12-year-old son are nauseating—not to mention unbelievable. We’re supposed to buy that someone as morally repugnant as Nick is, at heart, a superdad? This attempt at balancing the macabre with the sentimental makes the principal cast look soft and incapable of delivering edgy, wry humour.

Conversely, the minor players—Lowe (who always makes a great snake), Elliott and The O.C. kid Adam Brody—leave you wanting more. But alas, it’s back to more father-son heart-to-hearts. Speaking of which, perhaps Jason’s old man needs to have a sit-down with his son about how to make a comedy that’s actually funny.

Thank You for Smoking opens Friday, April 7

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