Even those who liked Eddie Murphy's vulgar "remake" of "The Nutty Professor" will probably agree that he's bungled that big "comeback" with one fell swoop — the new action/comedy "Metro."

He's paired with Michael Rapaport ("Beautiful Girls," "Mighty Aphrodite") for yet another "buddy" or "Odd Couple" cop movie that isn't particularly groundbreaking or memorable.

Murphy made a big name for himself with similar vehicles in the '80s, in particular, "48 HRS." and "Beverly Hills Cop." But this movie provides more than ample evidence that you can't go home again — it's a dull thriller that isn't thrilling and a comedy that isn't very funny.

Murphy stars as Scott Roper, the San Francisco Police Department's top hostage negotiator. But Roper hasn't handled his personal affairs nearly as well as his job — he's a gambling addict and has bungled his relationship with Veronica Tate (Carmen Ejogo), a newspaper photographer.

Actually, the fast-talking, prickly Roper wouldn't have any nonprofessional human contact at all if not for Sam Baffert (Art Evans), his long-suffering detective friend, who puts up with all his verbal abuse. But Sam is killed during his questioning of Michael Korda (Michael Wincott), a charismatic jewel thief, while Roper waits for him in his car.

The revenge-minded Roper, who blames himself, would like to be put on the case. Instead he is saddled with Kevin McCall (Rapa-port), a SWAT sharpshooter who Roper's superiors would like him to train.

Wouldn't you know, desperate criminal Korda tries to rob a jewelry store but is thwarted. He is then forced to take hostages in the store, bringing him into a direct collision course with — you guessed it — Roper and McCall.

Director Thomas Carter ("Swing Kids") tries his best to make things exciting, and there are a couple of suspenseful moments (as well as the highest car-crash total this side of "The Blues Brothers"). Unfortunately, he has to work from a lame, predictable script (from "Tango & Cash's" Randy Feldman) and an extremely erratic performance from his star.

Murphy has a few charming and funny lines — all of which seem to be ad-libbed — but he doesn't seem very motivated. Consequently, there's a real lack of energy to things. Of course, it doesn't help that the film is at least 15 minutes too long (and its length is under two hours).

Rapaport and Wincott also try — and Rapaport generates the film's biggest laughs in one of its best scenes — but neither has nearly enough to do. However, Ejogo — a "veejay" — is utterly wooden as Roper's hostage, er girlfriend, and has the most irritating British accent this side of Downtown Julie Brown.

It should also be noted that, on top of its nonstop profanities and violence, the film also shows a mean-spirited disposition against the intellectually challenged and for cruelty toward women.

"Metro" is rated R for a slew of profanities, most of them coming from Murphy, violence, brief nudity, glimpses of nude photos and one racial epithet uttered by Wincott's character.