UNFAITHFUL (15, 123 mins) Starring Diane Lane, Richard Gere, Olivier Martinez. Now showing and UGC, Swindon

Unfaithful is director Adrian Lyne's remake of Claude Chabrol's elegant 1969 potboiler La Femme Infidele, about a couple struggling to come to terms with infidelity.

Edward Sumner (Gere) and his wife Connie (Lane) live in the leafy suburbs of New York with their nine-year-old son, Charlie (Per Sullivan). The marriage is solid, if rather staid, although neither Edward nor Connie is inclined to discuss their disaffection.

During a routine trip into the city, Connie is caught in a vicious storm and blown into the path of handsome antique book dealer Paul Martel (Martinez).

The spark of sexual attraction is immediate, but Connie quickly scurries back home, fearful of the intensity of her feelings.

Curiosity proves too much and she returns to Paul's apartment. Soon afterwards, the couple begin a tempestuous affair.

Edward is suspicious of his wife's behaviour and hires a private detective, who uncovers evidence of her infidelity.

Wounded and jealous, Edward confronts his rival, only for his rage to explode with tragic consequences.

Unfaithful is perhaps just a little too slow and plodding for modern audiences weaned on snappy editing and visceral thrills.

The film's European roots are obvious, both in the ponderous pacing and the climax. Lyne takes a good hour fleshing out the characters before Connie even contemplates cheating on her husband.

Lane and Martinez make an appealing couple, but Gere is less successful his character is so bland, you realise why Connie seeks solace elsewhere.

Rating: 6 out of 10