Alfie

Thirty-eight years on from the original Michael Caine classic, Jude Law takes on the role of Alfie; the ultimate lady-killer who, despite his success with the opposite sex, rarely gets emotionally involved with them. Alfie moves from woman to woman, oozing charm and charisma. However, the Cockney womaniser soon learns the dangers of his actions - the hard way. He loses the love of Julie (Marisa Tomei) when she realises he's been cheating on her, he gets his best friend's girlfriend (Nia Long) pregnant and tries to convince her to have an abortion, and finally, when he tries to settle down with an older woman (Susan Sarandon), he gets rejected for a younger man.

Although criticised by some of the press for failing to live up to the original, the 2004 version of Alfie is an all-round entertaining romantic comedy. Jude Law hits all the right notes; entertaining the audience with his cheeky quips towards the beginning, angering them when he hurts his many flames and finally inspiring sympathy when Alfie realises he's been selfishly living only for himself. Academy Award winner Susan Sarandon is, as always, superb as the older woman-about-town and Marisa Tomei is charming as Julie, a woman who makes the fatal mistake of falling in love with Alfie.

Naturally Alfie 2004 is different to the original, but this is inevitable in a re-make nearly forty years after. Don't compare Alfie too much and you will not be disappointed.

Ricky Anthony Wyatt