Dickie Roberts is a movie with a perfect hook. A child star on a US sitcom is now an out of work actor still clinging to the possibility that he may well make a triumphant return to the big or small screen.

Few of us would deny an interest in finding out what happened to the actors of years gone by. When Gary Coleman, who was presumably the inspiration behind Dickie Roberts, resurfaced as a security guard in a shopping mall, it was international news.

Unfortunately, despite a good concept and a number or wonderful references to fallen child stars from years gone by, Dickie Roberts is a messed up movie that really doesn't know what it's trying to be.

The story consists of Dickie's attempts to learn what it is to be 'normal' and, after a promising start, the movie falters when the story kicks in and Dickie moves in with his adopted family.

It falters because the plot simply won't sell to anyone over 10. And if that's who the target audience is, then fine.

But with all the genuinely funny moments clearly aimed at those over 25 and a degree of swearing, it's difficult to determine exactly WHO is supposed to go and watch this film.

David Spade is as inconsistent as the movie. At times he is a comic talent that holds the film together, often reminiscent of Adam Sandler. Yet at other times his over zealous attempts to hog the screen are genuinely cringeworthy.

The only genuinely laugh-out-loud turn comes from Jon Lovitz as Dickie's increasingly desperate agent.

But the film fails because there is simply too much moral garbage and too many cheesey set pieces mixed in with the inspired ideas that got this movie off the ground.

But one of the most inspirational scenes of the movie has Dickie playing cards with his out of work actor friends, including the likes of Greg Brady, Screech and of course, Corey Feldman.

Unfortunately the movie fails to strike a balance between the two sides of the plan. The concept jokes are brilliant but sporadic - check out Dickie's T-Shirt, referencing Bart Simpson's time as a child star - while the adopted family plan that serves as the core of the story is mis-judged.

Dickie Roberts as a movie is a let down, unless of course the intent was to reach the pre-teens. But that of course, means the best jokes will simply go to waste.

Richard Phippen