Decidely not everyone's cup of tea, but a fascinating recreation of its era, this is the story of the fabled humorist and writer Dorothy Parker and her round table of literary acquaintances whose lunchtime sessions at the Algonquin Hotel became legend in New York of the Twenties. The 'circle' included some of the most famous names of the day, including Robert Benchley, Scott Fitzgerald, and Harold Ross. Jennifer Jason Leigh is the drawling Parker to the life, complete with a portfolio full of famous Parker lines, from 'I may die before a train of thought reaches the station' to 'One more drink and I'll be under the host', the second summarising her two failed marriages and numerous love affairs - as well as the one with the bottle. Although dull in spots, the film has a newsreel immediacy that makes it impossible to ditch. And Campbell Scott gives by far his finest film performance to date as Benchley, keeping a tightly buttoned face as the film funny-man who was Parker's confidant, soulmate but never quite lover.

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