"Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo" gets less funny as it goes along. Considering that this alleged comedy wasn't funny to begin with, that's actually quite an accomplishment.

In fact, this sequel makes its predecessor, 1999's "Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo," almost look competent by comparison. At least that film's direction and performances neared professional quality (among its supporting cast was "Saturday Night Live's" amusing Amy Poehler).

This time around, producer/co-screenwriter/star Rob Schneider and his cohorts have simply upped the gross-out quotient in an attempt to shock and outrage. It's as if he decided to join forces with Tom Green. . . .

"European Gigolo" finds Deuce retired from the gigolo business. He's now pursuing oceanographic studies, in an attempt to make up for the tragic death of his wife (don't ask).

Unfortunately, those efforts end badly, so he leaps at the opportunity to join his pimp friend T.J. (Eddie Griffin) in Amsterdam. It turns out T.J. has ulterior motives for wanting him there, though — male prostitutes all around Europe are being murdered and he's the prime suspect, so he wants to use Deuce as bait to find the real killer.

However, what Deuce finds is romance, with Eva (Hanna Verboom), the obsessive-compulsive niece of the detective (Jeroen Krabbe) who's investigating the murders.

It's not a very funny premise to begin with, and that problem is only compounded by the lack of real jokes and even-sketchier plotting. Schneider's buddies Norm Macdonald and Adam Sandler show up in brief cameos, but even they look eager to get out quickly.

As for Schneider, his performance is too lazy to even qualify for "phoned-in" status. And Griffin's shrill antics are painful to watch — even more than watching veteran Dutch performer Krabbe humiliate himself.

Still, you do have to credit newcomer Verboom (host of the Dutch version of "Top of the Pops") for not losing her lunch all over her smarmy co-stars.

"Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo" is rated R for crude and sexually suggestive humor (sight gags and references), as well as some flatulence humor, frequent use of strong sexual profanity, violence (some brawling, sword fighting, vehicular violence and explosive mayhem), strong drug content (marijuana and hashish use), simulated sex and other sexual contact (mostly overheard), and some female and brief partial male nudity. Running time: 83 minutes.

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E-mail: jeff@desnews.com