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Sparkle

7/10

Stars: Shaun Evans, Stockard Channing, Bob Hoskins, Amanda Ryan, Lesley Manville, Anthony Head, John Shrapnel

Director: Neil Hunter, Tom Hunsinger

Youngster has an affair with an older woman, then falls in love with her daughter. Haven't we been here before? Well, hello Mrs Robinson!

Actually, that's a little less than fair on Hunter and Hunsinger's film, which plays quite a few variations on its Graduate theme.

Sam (Evans) and his mother (Manville), a would-be singer, move from Liverpool to London, where a friend, Vince (Hoskins), who adores Mum from afar, lets them the flat below his. Sam, being a bit of a chancer, soon takes advantage of a job as a waiter, given to him by Vince's brother Bernie (Shrapnel), to make the acquaintance of PR boss Sheila (Channing), whom he seduces.

At one of her parties, he meets Kate (Ryan) and falls for her. But Kate turns out to be Sheila's daughter, while her 'father' (Head) is actually her gay uncle, and her real father...but let's permit this complex plot to keep its twists intact.

This is slight, but largely enjoyable fluff, with the occasional excellent scene - as when Kate sees Sam in Sheila's kitchen, and realises with stomach-churning understanding that he knows where everything is - and the odd dud: a disco scene that goes on far too long.

Evans has a great Hugh Grant smile, Manville can really sing and Ryan's an interesting face who could go far on this form. It's mild feelgood fun.

David Quinlan

UK 2006. UK Distributor: Vertigo. Colour.
104 minutes. Not widescreen. UK certificate: 15.

Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 1, Violence/Horror 0, Drugs 0, Swearing 1.

Review date: 13 Aug 2007