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When did Ben Stiller grow up and lose his flair for comedy?

When he agreed to play the title character in “Greenberg,” that’s when.

For audiences expecting a Stiller character to deliver more potty humor, in the style of his performance in “There’s Something about Mary,” or annoyance, like his character in “Dodgeball,” prepare for something entirely different with the character Roger Greenberg.

Despite the director and co-writer Noah Baumbach’s unique approach to comedy, this time being realistically dry and comedically awkward, “Greenberg” still fails to get off the ground.

The plot follows Roger Greenberg’s life – or lack thereof.

“I’m really trying to do nothing for a while,” Greenberg says to a former lover. “I’m doing nothing deliberately.” When his brother and family take a vacation and Greenberg must watch over their house, Greenberg starts to do something with his time, for once.

Though he’s supposed to be building a doghouse while his brother’s family is away, he finds a love interest in his the family’s personal assistant instead.

Just when there’s hope for excitement, as sparks between Florence Marr (Greta Gerwig), the assistant, and Greenberg ignite, Greenberg’s dullness prevails. His personality is so shallow he can’t even make out with Florence without her getting bored.

That’s not only the problem with “Greenberg,” the film as a whole lacks substance, intrigue and excitement.

Conversations are nothing more than an exchange of very brief words between characters and emotion is limited in the film, as if the actors were directed to be as stoic as possible to achieve a comedic effect.