After trying to disentangle the complex relationships of these four, you could forgive marriage guidance counsellors running to the Samaritans.

Obituaries writer and frustrated novelist Dan (Law) meets New York stripper Alice (Portman) after she's knocked down by a black cab.

Fast-forward a year and they're living together - but that doesn't stop him making a reciprocated pass at photographer Anna (Roberts).

Then into the frame steps Larry (Owen), a doctor who is hilariously set up on a blind date with Anna by Dan via a computer sex chatroom.

However, they hit it off and - before you know it - get married...much to the despair of the infatuated Dan.

It sounds complicated but Mike Nichols - who was on similar ground with Carnal Knowledge - juggles the betrayals and intrigues as well as, well, Darren Day.

Although you could never tell from her Star Wars role, Portman is an actress of delicacy and verve.

Roberts hasn't savoured such a challenging portrayal in aeons while Owen - putting the disaster that was Arthur behind him - clearly relishes the role...and all the funniest lines.

It's difficult to believe that one of the creators behind Alan Partridge - Patrick Marber - is the writer of this often wincingly painful observation of deceipt and obsession.

It could be an agonising slog but there's a welcome strand of black humour - Dan and Larry's deceiptful sex chatroom exchange is a highlight.

And despite the Machiavellian machinations of this menage a quatre, a certain sort of justice is reached at the end.

Tim Evans