Is it a road movie? Is it a sharp, witty comedy? Or is it a total turkey?

Only a handful of films have been bad-mouthed by the movie industry, prior to release, to the extent of 'Ishtar'.

It deserves a kinder look; director Elaine May is a true original and she coaxes performances of real, touching humour from the unlikely pairing of Dustin Hoffman and Warren Beatty.

They play a pair of down-and-out songwriters who end up in a North African revolution (they actually did write one of the songs they perform - 'Half Hour Song').

Forget the gossip - remember the 'Road' comedies and enjoy it!