Alien territory for TV duo

Ant and Dec, ITV's most popular hosts, have always loved Morecambe and Wise. Sadly, there is only one scene in their first feature film to suggest that they've learnt a lesson or two from their heroes.

It arrives when they try to film the fake autopsy of a dead alien from outer space with the help of an undertaker, a butcher and a kebab shop owner.

Their efforts are disturbed by Nan offering biscuits, the clock falling off the wall and blood from a haggis, which is doubling as the alien brain, dripping on the carpet.

The idea for the hoax is dreamt up when Ray (Declan Donnelly) takes a trip to Cleveland, USA, to buy Elvis memorabilia for his London market stall. There he bumps into Harvey (Harry Dean Stanton), who sells him what he says is secret footage of the autopsy of an alien that fell to the earth way back in 1947.

When Ray and his mate Gary (Anthony McPartlin) arrive back home, they find the footage massively damaged. So they decide to manufacture their own.

There's a sub-plot involving a documentary film-maker (Bill Pullman) who manages to persuade them to tell their story to his camera, but it doesn't matter much. What everyone will want to know is how Ant and Dec perform.

The answer is that they can assume their characters deftly enough and act better than you might expect, but they need a better screenplay than this to raise laughs.

They are aided by good production values, but Shameless director Jonny Campbell's movie just isn't funny enough.

Alien Autopsy
Cert: 12A