There is something magical about the cast that was collected for Todd Phillips’ modern-day remake of “Starsky and Hutch.” Watching Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Vince Vaughn, Snoop Dogg and Will Ferrell join forces on the same screen feels almost like watching Magic Johnson’s L.A. Lakers play basketball in the 1980s. Of course, one cannot forget Carmen Electra and Amy Smart. One might consider them the Laker girls; a nice ancillary benefit, but they aren’t why people are buying the tickets.

The metaphor won’t be dragged out into any more specific terms than this review requires, but for those who love comedy, there is no question as to whether or not this movie should be seen in theaters. The masters who made this film are in their golden age; the lights go off and it’s showtime.

That being said, the film’s vehicle is its most restrictive element. Phillips went to great lengths to create a remake that would do the original series proud. There is little question that the authentic elements of the film come at the price of more than a few laughs. Audiences may grow frustrated more than once when masters like Vaughn, Stiller and Wilson are forced to waste time on screen hashing out a plot that no one cares about.

The film does deserve credit for wearing so many shoes in a period of two hours. Between having to pay tribute to the original series, include a mystery to be solved and being a buddy comedy, the film was pretty creatively constrained. There was only so much room for the infusion of zany banter that made Phillips’ “Old School” so successful.

Ferrell does the best job of giving this film a laugh-out-loud quality, while Vaughn, Stiller and Wilson round out the cast, each bringing his own specific brand of humor to the screen. Snoop also adds a distinguished element to the film playing “urban informant” Huggy Bear who “lays it out” so Starsky and Hutch can “play it out.”

The authenticity of the film, along with great comedic performances, made this a good polished piece. Unfortunately the polish was probably wasted on a 1970s vehicle unworthy of the work. At the end of the day, watching Stiller, Wilson and the rest of the cast in “Starsky and Hutch” was a little like watching Magic’s Lakers lose: You are a little disappointed but still glad that you got to see them play.