THIS heartwarming tale is based on the true story of Desmond Doyle, who made Irish legal history when he fought and won to keep his children after his wife deserted him.

Pierce Brosnan takes a break from Bond to play the leading man, who was chosen after Doyle's daughter, the real-life Evelyn, showed a picture of her father to the scriptwriter.

And he does a commendable job - despite the distinctly dodgy Irish accent and the even dodgier singing.

Unfortunately, he is lined up against the acting genius of Alan Bates, Stephen Rea and Aidan Quinn (as his brilliant if somewhat quirky legal team) and seems slightly dwarfed by the experience.

Sophie Vavasseur takes on the title role as Doyle's eldest child and very nearly steals the show with a very honest performance.

This is a story worth telling and it is told well, with a genuine desire of wanting to do a good job from all involved.

At times, it has the tendency to drift into cloying sentimentality and often feels like a TV movie or an episode of Ballykissangel.

But there is enough humour to save it from being too saccharine and some beautiful Irish scenery to gaze at if the story starts to drag.

SC