"I thought I married a hit man, not Martha Stewart," complains Amanda Peet's character in The Whole Ten Yards. Even if it is a disguise, she's tired of watching hubby, played by Bruce Willis, as he vacuums and cooks while wearing bunny slippers and an apron. Unfortunately, that's the only scene that made me laugh out loud in this disappointing sequel to The Whole Nine Yards. The rest of the movie gets shot down by hammy performances and a forced plot.

Along for the ride again are Matthew Perry and Natasha Henstridge. Perry -- reprising his clumsy, paranoid dentist role -- shows off his flair for physical comedy a bit here, but not as frequently or effectively as in the original flick. Instead, the filmmakers expect him to amuse viewers by belching or worrying incessantly about what happened during a blackout after a hard-drinking session with Willis. Henstridge, portraying Perry's wife (and Willis' ex-wife), doesn't fare much better. She seems oh-so bored when taken hostage by recently released crime boss (Kevin Pollack in annoyingly heavy make up), his bumbling henchmen and flatulent mother. Henstridge's character may think she'll be saved, but she should at least "put on an act" for her captors.

However, it's Willis who had me shaking my head during most of this unpleasant movie. Whether bawling like a baby, yelling at everyone, or fussing over a gourmet meal that's not perfect, he appears unconvincing and too far over the top. It's hard to believe this is the same fine actor who was so funny in The Whole Nine Yards and Bandits.

Okay, I know you're wondering about Amanda Peet. Like most viewers, I remember how hilarious she was in the first Yards. As a dental assistant who wants to be a hit woman, she almost stole the entire film. The good news is she's as lovely as ever. The bad news? Her character is now trying to shoot people at the same time she and her husband are hiding out in the Witness Protection Program. Does this make any sense at all? Not to me. Sadly, that little glitch distracted me during all of Peet's scenes.

Other plot problems in The Whole Ten Yards also bothered me. Granted, I enjoy a good revenge movie, and everything in this sequel does revolve around Pollack's crime boss seeking revenge on Willis for killing his son. But too many gimmicks get in the way here. A dollar bill cut in half, secret telephone conversations, gunplay for gunplay's sake, and a dangerous scam are among elements that add confusion, not comedy, to the mix.

Some movies shouldn't have sequels; they stand on their own. After seeing The Whole Ten Yards, I'm convinced The Whole Nine Yards is one of those films.

(Released by Warner Bros. and rated "PG-13" for sexual content, some violence and language.)