When four orphans (Edward, Lucy, Susan, and Peter) come together by winning a trip to a chocolate factory, it turns into more than they expected when they discover a wardrobe that takes them to a place called Gnarnia. There, they find themselves fighting in a war to destroy The White Bitch of Gnarnia.

For dedicated movie fans, this wild scenario gives you a taste of just where the new release, Epic Movie , is heading.

The major players in t his film, the orphans, are portrayed by actors Kal Penn ( Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle ), Jayma Mays ( appeared in the Television show Heroes ), Faune A. Chambers ( White Chicks ), and Adam Campbell ( Date Movie ).

The film is a slapstick comedy that spoofs everything from Pirates of the Caribbean to Superman Returns ,

and of course, The Chronicles of Narnia , which is the main target-spoof of the movie. Being made up of film spoofs, however, this film lacks originality. That alone will limit its appeal for some.

Yet, a lack of originality is not an issue for this movie. In fact, it's rather fun to point out which scene or which movie is being depicted; however, what becomes an issue for this particular film is the fact that it's really not all that funny.

Epic Movie has a few nuggets of humor, but in truth, it lacks the goods needed for a laugh-out-loud feature. It really felt like those in charge of this film were working too hard to be funny, consequently making a film that was, in all seriousness, just plain

ridiculous.

Along with that lack of actual humor, the film also sets a new standard for being extraordinarily random. From mocking an MTV show ("Cribs") to having a pirate music video (featuring the main pirate, Jack Swallows) with various flashing images of sailor products, the film went off into odd directions that added nothing to the film, or its attempts at humor.

With the random goings-on, the film never was connected, and it felt like a mess of different ideas being pulled together with no consideration of what might actually be good for the movie. This stew of spoofs doesn't work.

Comparing it with films in the slapstick comedy genre, such as Airplane! or Dumb and Dumber , which are excellent, funny films, Epic Movie falls far short.