Word to describe something that focusses so ostentatiously on its purpose that it fails to achieve its goal

I think you're looking for a term like affected.

affected |əˈfektid|
adjective
2 artificial, pretentious, and designed to impress: the gesture appeared both affected and stagy. [NOAD]


Too artful or contrived. Too clever by half(BrE). Up its own arse(BrE, vulg.)