Kate (Meg Ryan) is a market researcher living in contemporary Manhattan, Leopold (Hugh Jackman) is the third Duke of Albany, visiting Brooklyn in 1876 to find a wealthy bride.

So how do they meet? Well, Kate's ex-boyfriend Stuart (Liev Schreiber), an inventor who has discovered a 'portal' in time, also visits Brooklyn in 1876 and is followed back to the present age by Leopold.

HG Wells did the time travel stuff rather better. Here director James Mangold uses it to create a fish out of water romantic comedy.

Leopold, also an inventor, is intrigued by the wonders of today's New York but, most of all, is appalled by American manners.

Thus, as he and Kate get to know each, there is a nice contrast between 19th century aristocratic courtliness and the brashness of New Yorkers.

This gives rise to some neat dialogue. "Women have changed since your time, Leopold," says Stuart. "They've become dangerous."

On the other hand it also gives rise to a love story whose ending is never really in doubt even though, initially, Kate refuses to believe that Leopold comes from the 19th century and thinks he's just a ham actor in costume.

The romance takes a long time to get going but Jackman is likeable.

So, too, is Ryan - the only leading actress who seems to make a positive virtue out of suffering a permanent bad hair day - though perhaps she is now a little too mature to play cute all the time.

Incidentally, as a matter of historical accuracy the third Duke of Albany would already have been at least 420 years old in 1876 but, hey, why let the facts get in the way?

Barry Norman