Too much sentiment and not enough fun blemish this great idea, which gives Robin Williams - an actor of enormous comic talent if limited charm - a dream role as the divorced husband who disguises himself as a Scottish housekeeper (who keeps saying she comes from England) to be near to his three kids.

Whether the disguise is good enough to pull the wool over ex-wife Sally Field's eyes, especially as Williams slips and snarls his way out of character too often, is another matter.

But there are a good many bright patches, especially when Williams, out of drag, demonstrates his mastery of a string of famous voices in a session with his social worker.

Pierce Brosnan has a thankless role as the other man in Field's life but comes through it pretty well.

And Harvey Fierstein is quite a laugh as Williams' gay brother.

Not much of the film pays attention to logic - what out-of-work father could afford an entire children's zoo for a party, or cough up $140 on the spot for fast food meals? - but then the rules aren`t quite the same for comedy.

Parents should note a sprinkling of bad language and suggestive dialogue: it underlines that subtlety is not one of this film's strengths.

A field day, though, for fans of the star.