Jeremy Piven takes a turd and makes it shine; The Goods is another reasonably comedic offering from Will Ferrell and Judd Apatow that follows a team of mercenary used car salesmen and women as they attempt to drag a failing family business out of bankruptcy in a frantic, make or break three-day weekend.

This is an easy and undemanding film to watch, and does encourage the odd belly laugh and puerile chuckle, however I couldn’t escape the feeling that the film was held together on the strength of Piven’s performance alone, who acted as though his life, or wallet depended on it. Playing Don Ready, a miserable rock and roller of the used cars world, Piven manages to combine desperate vulnerability with mirth, obscenity and alpha-male bravado, and still make Don Ready a likable character you cant help but want to succeed.

However the rest of the cast, give or take the odd cameo, appeared as weary as the strippers in the background, and their performances were often either lacklustre, conceited or a combination of the two. There are a lot of familiar faces from other Ferrell-Apatow collaborations, and there is a distinct impression that many are resting on their laurels and Ferrell’s popular reputation rather than applying themselves fully, including Ferrell himself. I found the brief appearance he made to be an unnecessary and under-rehearsed ego trip of poor adlibbing that wasn’t even very funny.

As with all Will Ferrell’s films, the characters face a competitive challenge, struggle to succeed, almost fail and then win hands down whilst making several faux pas, correcting all their flaws and falling in love. However, it did make for an entertaining albeit unchallenging interlude on a rainy Sunday afternoon, and with its abundance of scantily clad strippers, catchy one-liners and fart jokes it will definitely prove popular with teenage boys.