‘Sex Drive” is “The Sure Thing” for the “Superbad” generation.

It's a road trip comedy about a teen driving 800 miles to lose his virginity after an Internet hook-up with a girl who may or may not be as hot as her Web photo, but who has promised to "go all the way." So no, it doesn't really have the charm of the romantic comedy that John Cusack (a star) and Rob Reiner (a star director) delivered back in 1985. Though it lacks much of "The Sure Thing's" warmth and romance, however, "Sex Drive" makes up some of the difference in goofy, no-holds-barred raunch.

As mandated by formulas as unalterable as the recipe for Twinkies, dorky Ian (Josh Zuckerman) is in the driver's seat, but has a cocky, sex-obsessed pal, Lance (Clark Duke, who's sort of a thinner Jonah Hill) along for the ride. Lance's job is to coach Our Hero, to lead by example (sexual conquests along the way), to teach Ian "the ability to close" -- the deal, that is.

The problem is that the just-out-of-reach BFF Felicia (an excellent Amanda Crew) invites herself along. Felicia has a crush on Lance, whose arrogance (and ready cash) are catnip to the ladies. Ian has a crush on Felicia. Pity he can't escape her "friend zone."

Misadventures pile up on our trio as they Ferris Bueller their way from Chicago to Knoxville, Tenn. -- car mishaps (racing their '69 GTO on the Interstate -- not smart), a dalliance with a convenience store clerk, a close encounter with a sinister hitchhiker and a romp through a hard-partying community of Amish folk (led by a very dry Seth Green).

"What up, English?"

Bit players around the edges of this messy and overlong trek are what make the trip work. Green is one. James Marsden is another. The star of "Enchanted" and "Hairspray" should be too old to play Rex, Ian's bullying older brother -- also the actual proprietor of the aforementioned (and hallowed) GTO -- but he hurls himself into being an obnoxious cretin with such verve that you won't see a hint of Prince Edward in him.

Co-writer and director Sean Anders flings a lot of stuff at the screen. One running gag is that every indiscretion the kids commit turns up on somebody's Web page. He's working with a charisma-deprived leading man, however, as well as a script that doesn't allow much room for heart. And you could feel the air sucked out of the theater about the time the roadkill euthanasia scene pops up.

Still, there's a reason "The Sure Thing" worked, and that borrowed message -- that love isn't really about Ian's "closing the deal," or objectifying the many nubile and often naked women who cross his path -- still sings. It's a shame that the clutter around that theme in "Sex Drive" all but drowns it out.

C-

Sex Drive

Director: Sean Anders

Cast: Josh Zuckerman, Amanda Crew, Clark Duke, James Marsden

Running time: 1 hr., 44 min.

Rating: R for strong crude and sexual content, nudity, language, some drug and alcohol use -- all involving teens

Location: Opens Friday at theaters everywhere