Hollywood often likes to poke fun at itself, but unless it is done with the utmost care, it can end up making you hate the selfishness and sycophancy that plagues the industry. Unfortunately, everything about "America's Sweethearts" is careless.

When the off-screen marriage of Hollywood's on-screen golden couple Eddie and Gwen (Cusack and Zeta-Jones) goes down the tubes, so does their popularity. So, a desperate studio boss hires publicist Lee (Crystal) to get the estranged duo together at a press junket, where the media can get excited about the possibility of them reuniting. Not easy when Gwen is a total bitch, who can't do anything without the help of sister and PA, Kiki (Roberts); and Eddie is on the verge of a mental breakdown.

The script here is not funny, while the cast - though star-studded - is perfunctory. Cusack, particularly, looks like he is thinking "Remember the cash, remember the cash!" the whole time. Rarely has there been a movie filled with such self-absorbed whingers, with only Azaria, as Gwen's new Spanish nitwit of a hunk, generating any grins.

There's a badly executed romantic sub-plot in there too, but all in all, this is a movie that's easily forgotten. Rumours suggested it was an unfinished script, hurried into production when Roberts (who's best mates with the director) signed on.

Note to Tinseltown: if you're going to take the mickey out of yourself, at least give it some thought.