Eddie Murphy clearly never heard the old adage that you should never work with animals or children. In "Dr. Dolittle" and its sequel, he happily played second fiddle to a rogue's menagerie of talking critters. And now, in "Daddy Day Care", he again allows himself to be upstaged by an entire nursery of infant scene-stealers.

Blame fatherhood and middle-age for Eddie's softer, safer image. Watching him read bedtime stories to his screen son (Khamani Griffin) or dress up as a giant broccoli, it's hard to believe this is the same cocksure, foul-mouthed dynamo who gave us "48HRS." and "Beverly Hills Cop".

When Charlie (Murphy) and Phil (Jeff Garlin) lose their high-profile advertising jobs, they're left minding the kids while their wives go out to work. Seeing a gap in the market, Charlie has a brainwave: why not set up their own "daddy day care" centre? How hard can it be looking after a few ankle-biters each day?

If they'd rented "Kindergarten Cop", they'd know the answer to that question. But Charlie finds out the hard way, as his pint-sized charges scream, fight, and defecate through a series of lame sight gags and increasingly desperate set-pieces.

Anjelica Huston offers classy support as the imperious head of a rival day care facility, while Steve Zahn peps things up no end as a Trek-loving geek who joins Eddie's outfit. But they're not enough to rescue a movie that, like "Pluto Nash" and "Showtime" before it, will have Murphy fans shaking their heads in dismay.

"Daddy Day Care" is released in UK cinemas on Friday 11th July 2003.