Schneider Blasts 'Pompous' Movie Critic

American comic Rob Schneider has furiously labelled movie critic Patrick GOLDSTEIN "unfunny" and "pompous" for his attack on his contribution to cinema.

The former SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE star has taken out a full-page advertisement in the HOLLYWOOD REPORTER attacking Goldstein's article on 26 January (05), in which he blasted movie studios for making lacklustre sequels like DEUCE BIGALOW: EUROPEAN GIGOLO.

His verbal assault mirrors Owen Wilson's recent defence of STARSKY + HUTCH co-star Ben Stiller, who was criticised for his "tiresome" screen presence by New Yorker magazine's DAVID DENBY.

Schneider writes of Goldstein, "Most of the world (has) no idea of your existence.

"Maybe you didn't win a Pulitzer Prize because they haven't invented a category for 'Best Third-Rate, Unfunny Pompous Reporter'.

"I can honestly say that if I sat with your colleagues at a luncheon, afterwards they'd say, 'You know, that Rob Schneider is a pretty intelligent guy' ... whereas, if you sat with my colleagues, after lunch, you would just be beaten beyond recognition."

On gossip website PAGESIX.COM, Goldstein responds, "I haven't received so many congratulatory phone calls since Billy Crystal wrote a letter to the editor comparing me to ROY COHN."