A collective groan of politically-correct outrage has met the Farrelly Brothers' decision to base their latest laughter fest around conjoined twins.

After obesity (Shallow Hal), schizophrenia (Me, Myself & Irene) and low-wattage dimness (Dumb & Dumberer), it would seem they'd broken the bad taste barometer.

However, a rich comic chemistry between Damon and Kinnear as the twins, plus - dare we say it - a subtle touch, makes this a surprisingly warm comedy.

At first, the news that the Farrellys had switched their attention to what had been regarded a comedy taboo suggested they were primarily out to shock.

But the shock comes in how skilfully they have avoided cheap gags and tired slapstick to underline the boys as winners and not the butt(s) of lazy humour.

Bob (Damon) and Walt (Kinnear) are at pains to point out they are not Siamese ("We're American") but conjoined twins.

Far from being institutionalised under-achievers, sports-mad Bob and romeo Greg run a successful fast food restaurant in Martha's Vineyard.

However, the small-towners agree to travel to Hollywood's bright lights to allow Greg to try his hand at acting in a movie.

After a false start as 'freaks' in a porn movie, a chance meeting with Cher sees the star casting Greg in a TV series she is reluctantly filming.

It would be easy to knock the Farrellys for cynically concocting a broad comedy around a condition that is no laughing matter.

OK, so the cloying sentimentality that mars most Hollywood product is never far away, but it's good to see Downs sufferers and the wheelchair-bound part of the cast and not the self-conscious focus of it.

Cher sends herself up splendidly and even Meryl Streep - or Streepy as she is known, a tad over-familiarly, by Walt - is game for a laugh.

How can you resist a script where crossword-crazy Walt's clue is a four-letter word meaning snatch?

The answer, of course, is grab.

Tim Evans