Is there no originality left in Hollywood? Here is another remake of a film which wasn't very good when it was made first time around.

If that's hell I'm getting out of here

After all, would you go and see a movie starring Dudley Moore, Peter Cook and Eleanor Bron?

Made in 1967 the original Bedazzled is now only likely to grace Saturday matinee television audiences. The remake will be lucky to achieve that sort of fame.

Liz Hurley replaces Peter Cook as the Devil. While she might look better than the late comic, acting has never been her strong point. Given the script she has to work with she was on a loser from the start.

And don't you dare wish for Hugh Grant

Maybe I'm being too harsh. The film actually begins well. Elliot Richards (Brendan Fraser) is a bit of a Mr. Sad. He's the man everyone at work tries to avoid.

So what chance has he got of winning the girl of his desires? A devil of a chance it turns out. Satan arrives in the form of Ms. Hurley who grants Richards seven wishes to achieve his dreams.

There's a catch of course. He has to give her his soul. The Devil, being the Devil, also provides a loose interpretation of Richards wishes.

"High fives.""No thanks."

Thus he's transformed into a drugs baron, a sensitive man who burst into tears at a sunset and a basketball star who's a giant of a man in most departments but not beneath his shorts.

The first half of Bedazzled has plenty of funny moments. Brendan Fraser (star of The Mummy) proves his versatility as an actor.

When I said I wanted to be a BIG star I meant big in every department

Suddenly, however, the film melts into sentimental mush and before you know it the end credits are rolling.

It's rather like that creative story you had to write in English - great initial idea but then you run out of steam and the tale suddenly ends "...and then I woke up. It had all been a dream."

Similarly, Bedazzled sparkles briefly then fizzles out to leave the viewer deflated.