It's received wisdom that you could never make a film version of the convoluted brick of an 18th century classic The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman.

So director Michael Winterbottom doesn't bother.

Instead, he takes the spirit of the novel - it's doomed effort to make sense of a world that is in essence nonsensical - and applies it to the madness that is film-making.

And to make things interesting the film that they are making is an adaptation of - wait for it - Tristram Shandy with a periwigged Steve Coogan in the title role.

Surrounding him is a roster of Britain's finest comedy talent - Rob Brydon as Uncle Toby, Dylan Moran as Dr Slop - and revered actors including Jeremy Northam and Gillian Anderson.

But they're not just portraying the characters from the novel…they're also playing themselves. So what we get is players impersonating themselves impersonating people impersonating people in a book. Got it?

It sounds like it should be a lumpen pudding of movie… but it works serenely well thanks to a terrific script from Martin Hardy that is mined for all its nugget-strewn worth by Coogan.

Some of his exchanges with Brydon are priceless - apparently the colour of the latter's teeth is "pub ceiling" on the Dulux colour chart.

There's also the issue of his heels not giving him the height for the dramatic clout the role requires. In other words, he's shorter than Brydon.

Its acid observations, casual put-downs and ego-tripping forays (Brydon constantly mimics Coogan's turn as Alan Partridge) do for film-making what director Michael Winterbottom did for the music scene in 24 Hour Party People.

They said it couldn't be done. And it hasn't. But who cares?

Tim Evans