Glittering Stones News

"Opal Dream" marks the second time British movie maker Peter Cattaneo has chosen the cameras during 1997's "The Full Monty," and, even though the latest film is delightful enough, we're still waiting for him to break free of his sophomore slump.

Perhaps the success of Monty, which almost had audiences doffing clothes in solidarity with its cast of sweet amateur strippers, casts too big a shadow. (The other film, 2001's "Lucky Break," was modeled too clearly after "Monty.") Although "Opal Dream" marks an agreeable exit from the conventions of the British comedy -- it's based on a children's book and set in the Australian outback -- it's insufficiently small in scope.