So you’re a huge David Spade fan and you see the previews for “Joe Dirt.” You try convincing yourself that it’s going to be funnier than it looks but it’s just not working.

Trying to not look lame you don’t go on opening night but sneak in to a late show on a Tuesday. Expecting the worst, you sit through it with a cringe on your face. But when you leave, you’re pleasantly surprised – it’s actually sort of funny and has somewhat of a story to it.

“Joe Dirt” tells the tale of a guy named Joe Dirt (Spade) whose parents left him at the Grand Canyon when he was a little boy. He was forced to raise himself while bouncing from foster home to foster home, causing trouble and stealing to survive.

It’s Joe’s positive outlook and fear-nothing attitude that keeps him alive as he’s picked on by the guys but loved by the ladies.

He meets a beautiful girl named Brandy (Brittany Daniel) with a dog and begins to feel loved for the first time. When the dog dies, he decides it’s time to go searching for his parents – the premise for the movie.

Joe was born missing part of his skull so his mother put a mullet wig on his head. When his skull began to fuse together, the mullet was stuck permanently. Joe’s facial hair only grows in the shape of pointy burns and a trashy goatee.

The idea of poking fun at white trash would have been much more effective a few years ago when the concept was fresh. Everyone has had their laughs at the mullet and the trailer park by now.

In the journey of searching for his parents, Joe befriends a number of people that help add laughs to this film. Christopher Walken is one of those as he is mobster on re-location as a school janitor.

Kid Rock appears as a trashy, Firebird-driving bully who picks on Joe and is after Brandy. His acting is surprisingly solid – meaning he isn’t the rock star who was obviously put into a movie role. He fits his character well (believe it or not) and adds some humor.

Other cameo appearances include Kevin Nealon, a dirty car impound employee, and Dennis Miller, who plays a witty radio personality to which Joe is telling his story throughout the film.

Spade was impressive in the fact that he broke away from his smart-ass role that has made him so famous in the past. Though his character isn’t very believable (which isn’t the idea), he is lovable and fun to watch.

In her film directorial debut, Dennie Gordon does a good job of keeping things moving. And she is able to take a pointless comedy and put a little substance behind it.

“Joe Dirt” is definitely in the spirit of “The Waterboy” (Adam Sandler was the executive producer for “Joe”), as it isn’t supposed to be an accurate portrayal of real life, but it’s entertaining and contains delightful characters with feelings.

Don’t expect the usual “Tommy Boy”-style comedy from Spade, rather a fresh look into his comedic repertoire. “Joe Dirt” won’t rank anywhere near the top of quality comedies from the past decade; rather it falls somewhere below “Black Sheep” and ahead of “Beverly Hills Ninja.”

It will probably be better than Tom Green’s new “Freddie Got Fingered.” Stay tuned next week to find out.

** 1/2