BASED on the classic 1960 caper starring Terry Thomas, School For Scoundrels is a comedy about a loser who takes life by the horns, and almost gets gored as he hangs on for dear life.

Todd Phillips' film is blessed with winning performances from Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite) as the hapless hero, and Billy Bob Thornton as his mentor.

The centrepiece sequence on an indoor tennis court, when teacher and his fast-rising protege trade back-hand passes and sardonic quips, edges tantalisingly close to hysteria.

A madcap grand finale is both intelligent and satisfying; a rare double-act in mainstream Hollywood comedies.

But for all its efforts, School For Scoundrels flunks some of the basics, like well-drawn characters, consistent tone and a balance between saccharine sentiment and heartfelt emotion.

New York City traffic warden Roger (Heder) is too sweet and sensitive for his own good, allowing angry customers to bully him into submission.

Adding to Roger's misery, he is a gibbering wreck around women and doesn't know how to chat-up his beautiful neighbour Amanda (Jacinda Barrett).

So Roger enrols in confidence classes run by the enigmatic Dr P (Thornton) and his hulking sidekick Lesher (Clarke Duncan).

Dr P's teaching methods are unconventional to say the least - they are more akin to mental and physical torture.

The tutorials seem to do the trick and Roger's self-belief soars, blessing him with the self-confidence to take charge of his romantic destiny... until Dr P decides to woo Amanda himself.

Entertaining in fits, School For Scoundrels has the potential to be a non-stop riot of laughter.

The script pitches itself as a black comedy but concentrates on a fairytale finish.

Heder is huggable and Thornton brings a roguish twinkle to the eye of his suave teacher, but Barrett is a tad insipid.

On the scant evidence in Phillips's film, we struggle to understand why Roger would risk incarceration to win her heart.

During his lessons, Dr P tells students that by following his example, they can unleash "their inner lion".

School For Scoundrels is more of a docile housecat.

  • See it at the Odeon and Empire.