Lake Placid

King Kong started it. Jaws went underwater. Anaconda spooked the rain forest and Loch Ness confirmed rumours of big things with Scottish accents. The monster movie is becoming as popular as the campus slasher flick. Lake Placid - the title is ironic - has an added bonus of David E Kelly, Ally McBeal's creator, in the scriptwriters' dugout and Stan Winston (Aliens, Jurassic Park) on special effects.

It's the same-old plot of B-grade stars and assorted creature fodder attempting to discover what the hell is gobbling elk, bear, cattle and long legged swimmers in a salt water lake in Maine.

Bill Pullman is the shy game warden who looks half way handsome and completely dull. He doesn't do much. Bridget Fonda is a paleontologist from New York who finds everything outdoorsy unhygienic and horrible ("I'm allergic to timber").

Irish actor, Brendan Gleeson (The General), is the dumb local sheriff who stays around because there's nothing happening at the office. He manages to inject a certain bumbling reality into a fall guy role.

Oliver Platt, who has waited so long to show off his comedic skills, finally lands an eccentric millionaire, with academic credentials in reptile observance. He has a lovely time bating the sheriff and sticking up for the scaly man-eater ("He's a miracle of nature!").

This is hokum with teeth. You appreciate the humour and believe in the creature - full marks, Stan - and wish the music wasn't so obvious and wonder why Bridget is making eyes at Bill. She can't be that desperate. Even if the mosquitos are killing her.