THE Americanisation of the 1960 British comedy original, which starred famously gap-toothed Terry-Thomas, finds Napoleon Dynamite star Heder cast as Roger, a geekish parking attendant nobody likes and everyone humiliates.

Drivers abuse him, people cross the street to avoid talking to him and even students in the nightclass he takes demand a different teacher.

Clearly he's in need of a confidence boost, especially when you see him all tongue-tied and clumsy around pretty girl next door Amanda (Barrett).

Whether Thornton's self-confidence guru Dr P and Duncan's fearsome aide Lesher are the people to do this is debatable.

This is fun to start with as the class of low-esteem losers learn to assert themselves through Dr P's therapy, such as paintballing without protection.

Matters take a nastier, more competitive edge when Roger notices Dr P taking a more than passing interest in Amanda. The love rivals are soon engaged in a battle for her affection that isn't fought under the Marquess of Queenberry rules. There are occasional nods to the original, notably a tennis match in which love-all doesn't apply.

As far as Heder goes, he has a different hairstyle but Roger remains just a slight variation on his Napoleon Dynamite character, only more gormless and less lovable. Duncan's amusing as the threatening teacher's aid come henchman. Best of all is Thornton, more or less doing his Bad Santa routine without the white beard and red costume.

Starring: Jon Heder, Billy Bob Thornton, Jacinda Barrett, Michael Clarke Duncan.
Running time: 101 mins Rating: Three stars