Review: ‘The D Train’ Starring Jack Black & James Marsden

“The D Train” is a head-scratcher of a film, and not in a good way. Written and directed by Jarrad Paul and Andrew Mogel (the duo behind Jonah Hill’s short-lived animated series, “Allen Gregory”), the comedy stars Jack Black as Dan Landsman, a man still yearning for approval from high school classmates. He wasn’t popular when he graduated 20 years ago, and he still isn’t. He’s a social outcast, a guy who never really fit in and longs for adoration and acceptance. Despite this driving desire, Dan has a loving and attractive wife (Stacey, portrayed by Kathryn Hahn), an affectionate 14-year-old son (Russell Posner, “Fading Gigolo”), and an infant daughter. Given all he has at home — which, held up to the light of Dan’s social shortcomings, never achieves believability — you’d expect him to be more than content. Yet, he’s not. He barely acknowledges Stacey, except to ask her to do (non-sexual) favors for him in the middle of the night. His son obviously looks up to him — though it’s...