Who knew there was a 12-step program for murder addicts? And who would guess a predilection for manslaughter could be passed from one generation to the next?

Those are only a couple of the ridiculous plot points in the inane Mr. Brooks, starring Kevin Costner, William Hurt and Demi Moore, all of whom should have known better than to take part in this silly spectacle.

You can't really fault Dane Cook, in his first serious role, though he overplays his wannabe killer in a particularly ham-fisted fashion.

Costner and Hurt together play Mr. Brooks in a device that is clunky from the start. Brooks is a rich businessman and philanthropist who, when the film opens, is being honored as Man of the Year. His evil alter ego is played by William Hurt, whose character ranges from snarky to maniacal, with lots of crazed chuckling to illustrate the latter.

In the scene where we first glimpse Hurt, he is leaning over Costner's shoulder and egging him on to violence. He's only a notch away from playing the cartoon devil whispering tantalizingly evil counsel into Costner's ear. Unfortunately, Costner doesn't have an opposing angel telling him to ignore the advice of his inner demon.

What he does turn to, rather ineffectually, is an Alcoholics Anonymous-like program. When others stand and reveal that they're alcoholics or junkies, he introduces himself as "an addict," never owning up to his particular choice of poison. It turns out he's not just a generic slayer but a serial murderer dubbed the Thumbprint Killer. He has managed to stave off his pathological urges for two years by repeating "one day at a time" and attending meetings, despite the scoffing of the bloodthirsty Hurt.

But it all goes awry after the Man of the Year banquet. Something about the rubbery chicken and the tedious congratulatory speeches inspires a murderous rampage.

When he kills a couple in the middle of a tryst, he is spotted by a creepy neighbor (Cook). Moore is the eagle-eyed police detective channeling her inner Columbo. She's a tough cookie who mutters to herself while combing the crime scene. She also is a multimillionaire with a philandering ex-husband. Despite all the piled-on characteristics, her performance is bland and forgettable. Costner is dully wooden, and Hurt is over the top.

Mr. Brooks is far-fetched, flimsy and uninvolving. Particularly absurd is a subplot involving Costner's daughter (Danielle Panabaker).

"She has what I have," Costner's character muses to his alter ego. What? Bad taste in roles?