Tweedy music teacher Mathieu (Jugnot) is a natural target for the devil-may-care urchins at his new posting - a school rejoicing in the name - I kid you not - Rock Bottom.

He's tubby and he's bald. He's bumbling and unprepossessing and he's totally oblivious to the ways things are run by the pompously authoritarian head Rachin (Berleand).

But he has a couple of tricks up his sleeve - kindness and an innate decency coupled to the belief that music is the key to unlocking the kids' hidden hearts.

Before you can sing Do-Re-Mi he has the initially reluctant nippers belting out Gallic folk songs with a gusto normally reserved for chucking paper darts.

It's all looking a little bit too-good-to-be-true when a real flavour of good old-fashioned dissent is introduced with arrival of genuine delinquent Mondain (Grégory Gatignol).

Despite being selected as a baritone, he refuses to conform, insolently blowing smoke into sir's face and then doing a runner with the school funds.

After that it's back to practising scales and drowning out any hint of rebellion with a hearty recital of popular standards in front of the local countess.

It's difficult to resist the sugared charms of this charitable tale thanks to accomplished if slightly cartoon performances, especially from Jugnot as the singing saviour.

Some recognition of life's harsher realities are relayed by the suggestion Mathieu was a failed composer and his bittersweet friendship with one of the boy's pretty mothers.

However, you're not allowed to feel down for long and - if you're in the right mood - this hits the right notes even if it's slightly out of tune with harsh reality.

Tim Evans