Frank Morrison (Travolta) is a regular guy who builds boats for a living and enjoys a cordial relationship with his ex-wife Susan (Polo) and 12 year old son Danny (Matt O'Leary).

Into their lives comes smooth operator Rick Barnes (Vince Vaughn), a popular businessman-philanthropist who has been living in the New England resort of Southport for a couple of years.

He's hooked up with Susan...but, to smooth the waters for rebellious Danny, Frank agrees to take them both out on his boat for a bit of male bonding.

So far, so good. Then Danny falls out with mum's new husband over a little thing: baseball practice. And then a slightly bigger thing: he witnesses him committing a murder.

Rick's victim is former criminal associate Ray Coleman (Buscemi), who has turned up in Southport for his cut of the loot after being freed from prison.

Danny runs to his dad...but the police can find no evidence of a crime and even Frank has difficulty believing the story his son has come up with.

The only person who does believe him (with good reason) is nasty Rick...and he lets Danny know that if anything gets out things could get very messy.

Meanwhile, Frank - who knows his son has never lied to him - has his suspicions and begins an investigation of his own.

Director Harold Becker competently lays on the tension and the plot twists and turns, if a little predictably, towards a nail-biting climax.

Travolta is gently appealing as the desperate dad up against the smooth-talking city slicker while Vaughn brings the required chill to the step-dad from hell.

Some of the dialogue may bring out a titter in British audiences (when it's not supposed to) but it's a solid affair.