Sabrina

Even 40 years ago the material was none too sparkling, though Audrey Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart and William Holden made it appear so. The present cast are in no position to manufacture fizz.

The original was titled Sabrina Fair: now meet Sabrina Middling-To-Downright-Dull.

The whole fairy-tale, under Sydney Pollack's direction, has lost its acidity here and ended up like a stick of rock: long, sweet and muscle-aching to consume.

We remain outside the fourth wall looking in but are never drawn in; bemused perhaps, even agreeably complaisant, but never entirely amused.

This new Sabrina is more fizzle than fizz.

The new "Sabrina" is an enchanting romantic comedy with the magic of a fairy tale, but also with the poignance of a broken heart.

Fans of the original won't be satisfied, but, by the end, there's no doubt Pollack achieves a sparkle to match the picture's undoubted polish.

Sabrina is I think actually one of the most successful remakes... ever made.

Miraculously, Pollack makes Billy Wilder's 1954 light comedy leaden, like a chef turning a meringue into a bread pudding.