Director David Gordon Green made a name for himself with George Washington, a small, soporific tale about four childhood pals covering up a tragic accident.

Here, he moves on to young love in the form of mill town lothario Paul (Schneider) and his romance with best pal's sister, the virginal Noel (Deschanel).

The setting's the same - a depressed town in the throes of recession that nevertheless has equal parts of beauty amid the urban decay.

However, the characters have left their teens and are facing the make-or-break decision whether to stay in town...or quit for the bright lights.

Like all fledgling romances, this one has its ups and downs...but 18-year-old Noel makes sure it's a big down when she sleeps with someone else.

Paul - who has left a string of broken hearts behind himself - hypocritically gets rather peeved and can't come to terms with the infidelity.

Slow-moving to the point of stasis, you have to settle down to the pace of the narrative before its pleasures are revealed.

Gordon Green neatly evokes the petty deceipts and joyous triumphs of courtship...but the tale threatens to lose it's spark quite quickly.

That this is avoided is thanks in no small measure to Danny McBride's Bust-Ass, who regularly brings a welcome shot of humour.

"When you've finished being in love, you can come round to my place - I've got a waterbed," he tells Noel.

Every now and than a bum note is hit - the scenes with Noel's Downs Syndrome suffering brother verge on the mawkish while Paul's mum's clown alter ego is a mistake.

Nevertheless, it's a charming, thoughtful story well told.

Tim Evans