Even the most conservative risk assessor would have to figure that the romantic pairing of Ben Stiller and Jennifer Aniston wouldn't threaten the no claims bonus.

However, even with a script and direction from Meet The Parents and Zoolander supremo John Hamburg, this never matures into the promised feelgood policy.

Stiller plays star insurance company assessor Reuben Feffer, a man whose risk-free life is shattered when his new wife (Will & Grace's Messing) runs off with scuba diver.

So far, so good: Stiller displays the nuanced physical comedy that served him so well opposite Robert De Niro in Meet The Parents and Messing responds with Grace's exquisitely judged comic timing.

However, when Feffer returns from his honeymoon to New York and hooks up with former school colleague and zany drifter Polly Prince (Aniston) the narrative stumbles.

He's one of life's planners who never leaves anything to chance while she is a spur-of-the-moment freebird into salsa, short term waitressing jobs and spicy food.

But the promising personality clash never materialises - they are both too forgiving and lenient in their view of each others foibles as to make their chalk and cheese match perfect.

It's not Aniston's fault - after ten years of Friends it's taken as read you can manipulate most situations to superior comedy effect and she does her best with an underwritten role.

The problem lies in Hamburg relaxing the reins of his previous offerings and embracing gross-out gags - mostly involving Stiller's bowels - to monumentally unfunny effect.

Philip Seymour Hoffman salvages what he can as a former child star and buddy of Reuben's who sustains David Brent levels of self-delusion.

Alec Baldwin also weighs in winningly as Reuben's crudely ambitious boss and Bryan Brown engages as a daredevil Aussie billionaire for whom Reuben is trying to put together an insurance package.

However, the impressive roster of talent is cruelly wasted with a narrative that promised so much in the first twenty minutes only to end up literally flushed down the toilet.

Weigh up the cinematic risks before signing up for this one.

Tim Evans