IT'S A sad day for cinema when the best thing you can say about a film starring a Hollywood legend is that he isn't the worst thing about it.

Jack Nicholson has strayed well and truly into Robert Di Niro-style comedy misfire territory with his latest cinematic outing.

It's not that legendary actors shouldn't try their hand at comedy, but they should be a bit more picky about their vehicles.

And while comedy may be a departure for Nicholson, the role of the seemingly-insane therapist, Dr Rydell, doesn't exactly stretch his acting muscles.

Anger Management isn't awful, and if you're an Adam Sandler fan you're sure to love it.

Sandler is likeable enough as the non-confrontational, and consequently trod-upon Dave, who has an irrational fear of public displays of affection and isn't taken seriously by anyone except his girlfriend.

But this is a fairly boring, totally obvious, sometimes irritating and ultimately schmaltzy movie that doesn't deserve to have Nicholson as one of its stars.

It has the odd moment that may raise a half smile but laughs are thin on the ground and most of the supposed jokes are so obvious and well sign posted that it's a relief rather than a delight when they reach their climax.

And in a film which is comedy rather than plot driven, an absence of laughs is definitely a bad thing.

To make matters worse, it develops to a sickly sweet ending with a nauseating scene in which Dave proposes to the love of his life in front of a baseball stadium full of people.

The sickliness of this scene is highlighted by a cameo role from former New York mayor Robert Guliani, which seems almost tasteless given the reason for his fame.

Indeed, the film is littered with cameos, including ones from John McEnroe, Woody Harrelson, Heather Graham and Harry Dean Stanton, which seems to be a growing trend in comedy films, perhaps in the hope of distracting the viewer's attention from the lack of funny moments.

Let's hope Nicholson didn't enjoy shooting Anger Management so much that he decides to become a comedy actor full time.

I give it: 3/10

SALLY CHURCHWARD