In this Outback-set lowbrow comedy directed by Coyote Ugly's David McNally, a kangaroo fills the role usually served by dogs or chimps or talking pigs. Kangaroo Jack shares more DNA with See Spot Run than with Babe, as the title marsupial plays straight man to a pair of mugging, bumbling dolts, Charlie Carbone (Jerry O'Connell) and Louis Fucci (Anthony Anderson).

Before the showdown with the hitmen who land in the Outback to whack Charlie and Louis, who have, in turn, allowed said kangaroo to hop off with 50 grand of mob money, the movie gives us frat-house-style sexual humor, flatulence jokes about camels, and a romantic subplot apparently intended to woo the female half of the audience. Jessie (Estella

Warren), an animal expert in Eddie Bauer chic, is a welcome presence in this witless escapade, but Kangaroo Jack is the kind of jackass comedy in which the smart girl risks life and career for two half-wits. The portly Louis is portrayed as the fool, flailing about when ants invade his crotch. Couple that with Anderson's scenery chewing and it's hard not to cringe at the sight of this black man playing Dumber to O'Connell's Dumb. (89 minutes) Opens Friday at the Entertainment, Flagship, Holiday, Providence Place Mall 16, Showcase, and Tri-Boro cinemas.