Mark Twain's A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur's Court gets a modern twist into a sort of South Central Homeboy In Rent-a-Medieval-Castle.

Jamal Walker (Lawrence) is an olde worlde theme park ticket clipper, who finds himself time-travelling when he falls into a filthy moat while trying to retrieve a gold pendant.

Landing in 14th century England, he is mistaken for a Moorish messenger bringing intelligence from France to the court of evil King Leo (Kevin Conway).

"What news from Normandy?" the fresh arrival is asked. "Well, there's been a couple of drive-bys".

And this is the comic device on which the whole film is based - Jamal's sassy streetwise response to his fish-out-of-water position in a foreign country full of damsels in distress... and dodgy plumbing.

Appointed new court jester, Jamal soon has his sights on dusky wench Victoria (Thomason), who is secretly plotting the downfall of Leo the Usurper.

Director Junger describes her as "born at the wrong time - if she had lived in the 1960s and 1970s she'd be Gloria Steinem." Well, maybe Gloria Hunniford.

Anyway, it's up to Jamal to rally the faithful to the deposed queen's cause and this he does with the help of knight-in-rehab Sir Knolte (Wilkinson).

While no Eddie Murphy or Will Smith, Lawrence's enthusiasm is infectious and he is fed enough decent lines to raise a smile... if not a titter.

"There was one great king," he exalts the huddled peasant masses. "Rodney King, who said: 'Why can't we just all get along together?'"

Sly and The Family Stone's Dance to the Music gets a Minstrels' Gallery remix in a romp that never takes itself too seriously and throws up the requisite tally of gags to keep you satisfied.

"I'd go to the ends of the earth for you," Jamal tells Victoria. "But that's only six miles from here," is the reply.

Tim Evans