If it weren't drizzled in so much emotional syrup that you can almost feel your molars rotting in your gums, Roger Kumble's comedy might be a little creepy.

The central character is a police chief (Lawrence) whose idea of fatherly love is to publicly smother his teenage daughter with hugs and kisses to ward off potential boyfriends.

In any other film, his obsession would warrant a telephone call to child protection services.

But in College Road Trip, the father's inability to let go of his daughter is merely a starting point for a tiresome and achingly predictable journey of self-discovery.

En route, there are tears, karaoke, a flying pig and confessions of the heart worthy of the inside of a cheap greetings card: "Dads don't know everything. We just do the best we can."

College Road Trip continues Martin Lawrence's run of flops, contriving some truly ridiculous situations to force the inevitable reconciliation, like a tandem father-daughter skydive.

"This is cruelty!" shrieks Melanie, referring to her father's reluctance to grant her independence. The same could be said of Kumble's picture.