If gross equaled funny, then Larry the Cable Guy would be sauntering up to the podium come the next Academy Awards in his finest collared, sleeveless shirt and baseball cap.  A paragon of redneckiness, Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector’s  “blue collar” comedy style consists of trying as hard as possible to be dumb and disgusting.  Sometimes it even works.  Just don’t eat anything before going to the theater, and don’t even think about food when you’re there unless you consider myriad bouts of explosive diarrhea and graphic vomiting old hat and of little effect.

If nothing else, Larry is totally unashamed of its own style.  It isn’t trying to get a half-assed point across or teach us some valuable lesson; what you see is what you get.  And in the first minute of film, what we see is plumber butt, Larry walking over pizza on his floor, a reusable Q-tip, and peeing in the shower.  You can stop reading right there if you want, because how that sounds will be an accurate litmus test as to whether you like the movie or not.  If it sounds funny, go out there and “Git ‘r done.”  If not, don’t waste your time.

Or if you want to take things way too seriously, keep reading.

Our hero Larry is a health inspector for the state, and with his advanced knowledge of the unsanitary, a pretty good one.  He’s got a few complaints against his rather crude behavior though, and is partnered with the straight and narrow Amy Butlin (Iris Bahr).  Odd couple-like hijinks ensue, and there’s an entire new vocabulary if you’re taking notes (e.g., “chest-baskets” or “boulder-holders” instead of “bra”).

Things get serious when one fancy restaurant after another is poisoned.  Not poisoned-poisoned, with people dying or going blind or anything.  They all just get nasty cases of gas, diarrhea, and vomiting.  Larry and Amy get the case after special consideration from the mayor (Joe Pantoliano), who wants the serial scatologist found before the All City Top Chef Contest happens.  But is the mayor somehow behind it all?  Or is Big Shug (Bruce Bruce, and yes that is his name) eliminating the five-star competition to get a cakewalk with his fried chicken and waffles?  Most importantly, will Larry get laid?

Larry won’t take all this lying down though.  “Did Patton need a backup plan at Gettysburg?” he demands of his overly cautious partner.  And so Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector likewise forges on, unabashed, unfettered by political correctness, and uncouth.  Unfortunately, it’s also mostly unfunny.

Film Rating: ê1/2  (out of 4)