SEX involving the over 50s is something that is unlikely to have the current trend of young film-goers flocking to cinemas.

Except when Jack Nicholson is involved.

In Something's Gotta Give, Jack plays Harry Sanborn, a successful 63-year-old record company executive and confirmed bachelor who makes it a rule never to date woman over the age of 30.

His latest arm candy is Marin Barry (Amanda Peet), who takes Harry to her family's beach-side home in The Hamptons for the weekend.

It proves to be an eventful couple of days. First, he meets Marin's divorced playwright mother Erica (Keaton), and it's almost a case of hate at first sight for the both of them. Then Harry suffers a mild heart attack mid-kiss with Marin and is taken to hospital.

A period of convalescence then begins at Erica's house, after Marin has returned to New York. A mutual dislike/distrust not helped when Harry accidentally clocks Erica naked gradually gives way to friendship and eventually, though neither will admit it, love.

Something's Gotta Give has all the right components in place, not least two cracking lead actors, for a top notch romantic comedy. And there are some funny moments, mostly involving Nicholson (witness his bare backside as he staggers around casualty in a drugged state wearing his hospital gown).

Otherwise this is a rather bland effort there is plenty in this film to get your teeth into, but it lacks the spicy filling we so desperately crave. That's disappointing considering the talent on view, and some of the funniest lines are delivered by Frances McDormand, who plays Erica's sister, but she is sadly underemployed.

It doesn't help that the film sometimes gives the impression it was adapted from a stage play (it wasn't), with much of the action in the central part of the movie taking place in just a few rooms in one house.

And occasionally it resembles a French farce, particularly when Reeves's character the doctor treating Nicholson turns out to be a big Erica Barry fan and sets about wooing her himself, becoming Harry's rival in love. Nicholson and Keaton do work well together and are a good advertisement for middle-aged sex.

Jack is . . . well, Jack and it's a role he could play in his sleep (he probably does). And Keaton is equally engaging, only letting herself down a little when she embarks on a wildly over-the-top and protracted crying sequence it's supposed to be both funny and sad, but is just embarrassing.

OUT! rating: 5 out of 10

Film writer Stephen Webb reviews SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE

Starring: Jack Nicholson, Diane Keaton, Keanu Reeves

Director: Nancy Meyers

Certificate: 12a

Running time: 128 mins

Showing from today at: UGC and Cineworld, Swindon