What Happens in Vegas (12A) **

3:34pm Friday 9th May 2008

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ALL'S fair in love and war, especially when there is a three-million-dollar divorce settlement at stake.

What Happens In Vegas is a romantic comedy about two mismatched strangers who tie the knot in the gambling capital - under the influence of several bottles of alcohol - then head for the courts, where underlying tensions spiral out of control.

The battle of the sexes becomes increasingly vitriolic ("Til death us do part", "Not unless I kill you first") fanned by two so-called best friends who have serious anger management issues.

British director Tom Vaughan, who helmed Starter For Ten with James McAvoy, is blessed with sexy and adorable lead actors, who radiate energy and charm despite Dana Fox's poor script and its forgettable dialogue.

The opposites of goofy Ashton Kutcher and sophisticated Cameron Diaz do indeed attract, and there's guilty pleasure in watching these two actors spar, physically and verbally, including a centrepiece chase through the crowded streets of Manhattan.

They win us over even if, ultimately, the film does not.

In Las Vegas, dreams come true but for Joy (Diaz) and Jack (Kutcher), the Nevada desert is the beginning of a nightmare.

She arrives on the strip with best friend Tipper (Lake Bell), shortly after being publicly dumped by her fiance Mason (Jason Sudeikis).

He arrives at the same time in Sin City with best buddy Hater (Rob Corddry), determined to forget being sacked from the family business.

A shared night of drink and debauchery leads to the chapel and Joy and Jack wake the next morning with more than just a hangover. Just as they have finalised divorce plans, Jack wins the three-million-dollar jackpot on a slot machine using Joy's quarter. Needless to say, she wants half the winnings.

In court, Judge Whopper (Dennis Miller) hands down his verdict - "I am freezing the three million and sentencing you both to six months hard marriage" - and he refers the feuding couple to psychiatrist Dr Twitchell for counselling.

What Happens In Vegas follows a predictable dramatic arc, with Joy impressing her husband's parents (Treat Williams, Dierdre O'Connell) and Jack going down a storm with his wife's grouchy boss.

Kutcher and Diaz perform the pratfalls with gusto and look good together, compensating for a flood of greeting card sentimentality.

The remainder of the cast, including Corddry and Bell, are all two-dimensional slaves to the plot, nudging the lovers closer together or further apart.

• See it at Empire, Odeon