While there are some amusing moments in this comedy that tests the boundaries of political correctness, for the most part it's just plain unfunny. When it scores laughs, those laughs are loud, but at times, its efforts to ridicule certain elements of society fall flat, not out of offensiveness, but simply because the way they are presented just isn't funny. Certainly seeing Paul Reiser trying to fit in with black pal Robert Townsend's family by acting stereotypically black gets laughs, but it's because the parents don't say a word, giving the indication that either they are far too upper middle-class to understand or simply think that Reiser's a fool, but most likely both.

Every cliche possible is there for the laughing or the eye rolling. Ridiculously dumb mobsters, idiotic southern rural types (straight out of "Deliverance"), horny divorced women, foul mouthed old people and pompous upperclass white people, instantly putting their houses up for sale when a black family moves in. It's hit or miss, and as the film goes on mostly the later. Reiser is a comic of select appeal, and his band of college buddies going up against the mob to start a moving company is a mixed bag. Townsend is the only one to show any real potential. Richard Dean Anderson isn't served well as the clichéd upperclass snob Reiser goes up against. This had potential, but sadly falls short of succeeding in getting laughs while taking on risky topics that could have been fun seeing skewered.

I saw this a couple of times years ago, and just saw it again today. Even though it's over twenty years old, it holds up. This zany comedy had me laughing from scene two and kept me laughing all the way to the ending. Odd Jobs concerns a group of college friends who hope to make some extra money during their summer vacation. The boys try a variety of occupations from selling vacuum cleaners to waiting tables to working for a moving company. All these guys are a scream and get a chance to show off bits of their stand-up routines, but the clear winner in this outing is the late Leo Burmester (aka Burmeister) as Wylie the truck driver. He steals every scene he's in with his crazy over-the-top yet oddly believable performance. Corny, yes. But laugh out loud funny — all the way. Every performance, not just Wiley, was over the top, but in a good way. Scene after scene is filled with weirdo characters you won't soon forget. The chemistry between Wylie and Max (Paul Reiser) in their buddy movie sequences is perfect. Body by Jake was a little annoying with his Curly Howard laugh, but still good. And there is the Cabrizzi Moving Company whose sign looks like the label on a two dollar bottle of wine. Remember, Cabrizzi rhymes with sleazy. This is one of my own off-the-wall favorites along with Million Dollar Mystery. That one too didn't make any sense but we just went along to watch the comedians strut some of their best bits. These movies do what they're supposed to do: Entertain.

In Odd Jobs, 1980s stand-up comedians Paul Reiser, Robert Townsend, Rick Overton, and Paul Provenza are cast as average-Joe college men who start a small moving company to make some summer money, then run afoul of the Mob, while falling in and out of various sticky situations.

Highly entertaining, the scripted action combines sight gags, pokes at class, ethnic and racial stereotypes, and wacky mid-80's sexual set-ups.

A major reason to discover the film is provided by Leo Burmester, who steals all available scenes as Wylie, the pomaded long-haul trucker with a heart of gold.

Reiser, who would find lasting acclaim as a neurotic romantic lead in the television series Mad About You, is on form here as the nervous leader of the goofy pack. Off of the club stage, he can simply out- act most of the other stand-ups of his cohort.

Cameos and memorable short roles abound. The film efficiently extracts enjoyable performances from the likes of infomercial legend Jake "Body by Jake" Steinfeld, and a pre-MacGyver Richard Dean Anderson.

Overlooked when it released, and now all but forgotten, Odd Jobs is a funny movie that earns its laughs like its errant protagonists move their boxes; honestly, with earnest effort.