STARRING: Jim Carrey, Renee Zellweger, Robert Forster and Chris Cooper

Superstar Jim Carrey plays two sides of a romantic triangle in the Farrelly Brothers’ latest comedy, "Me, Myself & Irene." He stars as Charlie Baileygates, a docile Rhode Island State Trooper, who develops a split personality after years of bottling up his emotions. His alter ego — the rude and volatile Hank — embraces the confrontations which Charlie tries so hard to avoid. Wackiness ensues when both personalities fall for Irene (Renee Zellweger from "Jerry Maguire"), a prisoner Charlie is escorting from Rhode Island to upstate New York.

"Me, Myself & Irene" is writers/directors Peter and Bobby Farrelly’s follow-up to their wildly successful 1998 comedy, "There’s Something About Mary." This film walks the same fine line between sweet romance and infantile humor as that earlier flick. Unfortunately, it doesn’t marry those two concepts as successfully. The story serves only to set-up the jokes rather than the other way around.

The Farrellys try to recreate the formula of "There's Something About Mary" in "Me, Myself & Irene," but lightning doesn’t strike twice.

"There’s Something About Mary" showed me that there was more to these guys than just potty humor. Until that time, their appeal was pretty much lost on me. There’s a tenderness in this movie that’s missing in the Farrellys’ other work. It’s a romantic comedy hiding behind scenes of Ben Stiller getting bitten in the crotch by a hyper mutt and Cameron Diaz fixing her hair with "organic" styling gel.

The Farrellys try to recreate that formula in "Me, Myself & Irene," but lightning doesn’t strike twice. Perhaps it’s because the characters aren’t as clearly defined as they were in that prior film. Cameron Diaz was every guy’s fantasy, but at least you knew why. There were plenty of scenes showing that she was more than just a pretty face. Renee Zellweger doesn’t have that opportunity. It’s hard to believe that Carrey and Zellweger actually fell in love while making this flick because they generate so few sparks onscreen.

Zellweger’s a promising actress, but this role gives her nothing to do beyond playing Carrey’s straight man. Maybe the filmmakers thought Carrey was enough to make this movie work. His mugging is hilarious, but he hogs the spotlight from an extremely talented cast. In addition to Zellweger, the film also stars Robert Forster ("Jackie Brown") and Chris Cooper ("American Beauty"). These wonderful character actors are reduced to little more than well-paid extras.

The only ones giving Carrey any serious competition are the trio playing his triplet sons. Newcomers Jerod Mixon, Jerry "Mongo" Brownlee and Anthony Anderson are a scream as Charlie’s African-American genius sons, a product of his ex-wife’s affair with a midget Mensa member. These guys obliterate stereotypes and get huge chuckles by spouting scientific jargon like three gangstas working for NASA. They’re good, but Carrey is still the main reason to see this movie.

Carrey's mugging is hilarious, but he hogs the spotlight from an extremely talented cast.

He’s at the top of his game during the most outrageous bits, including wrestling a cow and fighting himself for Irene’s hand. Carrey throws himself wholeheartedly into the action. You almost believe that there are two people inhabiting his frame. While I’ve always thought he was a little too self-indulgent as a comedian, I applaud Carrey for being able to manipulate his body in impossible ways. He is his own special effect.

While Carrey’s very funny, I’m a bigger fan of his dramatic work. In movies like "The Truman Show," we’ve seen a much more complex side of this performer. I’m still stunned that he didn’t get an Oscar nomination for his amazing portrayal of Andy Kaufman in "Man on the Moon." I’m starting to wonder if the doddering old men that make up the Academy have something against Carrey. Maybe they think a guy can’t be both a movie star and an actor.

In a sense, I feel that Carrey’s latest role is his way of thumbing his nose at the Hollywood elite. If they won’t accept him as a serious actor, he’ll go back to the pratfalls and silly faces that made him rich and famous. "Me, Myself & Irene" is not the finest work we’ve seen from this cast and crew, but it’s not the worst either. There are enough big laughs to compensate for any flaws and I’m sure it will be a massive hit. When it makes a ton of money, Carrey can laugh all the way to the bank. After all, living well is the best revenge.