The cinematic canon of comedian Eddie Griffin is packed with absolute masterpieces of film, true paragons of movie-making virtue that surely will be remembered for centuries to come.

Movies such as House Party 3 and Undercover Brother have benefited from the genius that is Eddie Griffin.

As amazing as those films might be, My Baby's Daddy is thrice graced: Griffin not only starred in this enlightening comedy but also co-wrote and co-produced it. So greatly influenced by Griffin's talent, Daddy emerges as a film of amazing quality.

Of course, I'm just kidding.

Just in case one were entertaining the slightest notion that this movie was not an absolutely abominable waste of the film it's printed on, be grateful that I took the time and trouble to make sure.

It is.

The plot is hackneyed, the humor is cheap and crass, and the honestly earned laughs are sparse. Director Cheryl Dunye rarely, if ever, plays any noticeable part in the film, and that's probably for the best.

One or two bright moments do appear, however. The animated opening sequence gets the movie off to an ever-so-slightly promising start, and a comedic scene featuring interplay between rapper Method Man and Kids in the Hall alum Scott Thompson is genuinely funny.

But in the end, the lead performances sink the film. Griffin and the others try (most of the time) to make the film work but simply aren't talented enough to carry this unnecessary update of Three Men and a Baby.

And any film that contains a lead performance that compares unfavorably to the work of Steve Guttenberg should be avoided at all costs.

-- Reviewed by Julian Cantella