PLOT: Russell Crowe plays a hard-nosed London investment banker who winds up in Provence after his uncle leaves him a vineyard. The plan is to sell the property, but distractions abound in the form of a would-be rival heir from California and a snobby if beautiful French waitress.

For biographical dramas, high-seas adventures, even industrial thrillers, you really can't do much better than hire Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe.

Romantic comedies? Not so much.

Nowhere is that more evident than in Crowe's new film, A Good Year, which reteams him with his Gladiator director Sir Ridley Scott.

The two men, who worked wonders with swords and armour in Gladiator -- the film for which Crowe won his Academy Award -- don't produce the same magic here with good-looking women and grapes in their latest outing, based on the best-selling novel by Peter Mayle.

That's unfortunate because A Good Year has all the ingredients of a great romantic comedy, save for a suitable leading man.

First, there's the cut-throat London investment banker Max (Crowe) who spent his childhood summers at the stunning Provence villa and vineyard of his rakish Uncle Henry (the always watchable Albert Finney).

There's the sexy if initially snobby French waitress Fanny (Marion Cotillard) as a potential love interest for Max, who inherits said villa and vineyward when Henry passes away.

There's the attractive would-be-heir/cousin Christie from California (Abbie Cornish), who shows up with a potential claim to Henry's estate.

There's the eclectic, largely funny cast of characters ranging from Max's whip-smart assistant Gemma (Archie Punjabi) to his best friend Charlie (Tom Hollander) to the vineyward's caretaker couple (Didier Bourdon, Isabelle Candelier.)

Most of all, there's the glorious French countryside and the accompanying villa magnificently and lovingly shot by Scott, who has owned a home and vineyard in Provence for the past 15 years.

Sadly, since Crowe is almost in every scene -- weren't the Hughs (Grant or Jackman) available? -- A Good Year never really finds its momentum.

It's simply hard to not think about Crowe throwing a phone or a fist, as he has been known to do in his personal life.

Mr. Knuckles, definitely. Mr. Chuckles, it's a stretch.

In the increasingly grey days of a Canadian autumn, there are worse ways to spend two hours than in a darkened theatre.

Scott's obvious love affair with sunny and sensual Provence ultimately makes A Good Year worth watching.

BOTTOM LINE: Sir Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe worked wonders with swords and armour in Gladiator. Unfortunately, they don't produce the same magic with good-looking women and grapes in their latest outing -- a romantic comedy that boasts awesome Provence scenery.

(This film is rated PG)
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