Jude Law takes the title role in this remake of the 1966 flick that was the follow-up hit that confirmed Michael Caine as a star. He's been an enduring one, still turning them out, as British actors do, whenever he's asked. 130 movies, with three n various stages of production. Good on him.

But we're talking about the 2004 production, and Jude Law here. Remakes of classics always start with a disadvantage. Just as Caine undoubtedly had to contend with comparisons to Terence Stamp's performance in the original stage production (Stamp turned down the movie, and helped talk Caine into it, impelled, no doubt, by a hope that a good paycheck would get Caine out of his apartment and into his own flat). So lets get to it: Law plays a playboy, not uncaring, but happy with his life of plenty of women and no attachments, who comes to realize that's not what he wants. Caine played the same facade and base.... and then layered them with the coldness he plays so well. Law thinks he has it all; Caine brought an amount of misogynistic disdain into the mix. That might not play in the 21st century, but it's a more nuanced and interesting performance, watching Alfie's change from a cheap villain into his own victim.

Still, this is a handsome production, reset in New York City for no particular reason, and offering a good time. It's not a classic, but it is a good film.

Sir Michael Caine was perfect in the original classic comedy drama, so it was going to be interesting seeing another big English actor taking on the role, from director Charles Shyer (Father of the Bride). Basically, set in Manhattan (what's wrong with good old London, England),our leading man, talking directly to us, is cockney English limousine driver Alfie Elkins (Jude Law). He talks about wanting to own his own limousine company, and his food and drink tastes, but more than anything he talks about how he has dabbled with women. Aflie is charming and charismatic to women, knowing the right things to say, and he wants to make love to many women with no commitment or responsibilities, until he finds "the one". But as he spends time with these women, among others single mother Julie (Marisa Tomei),rich married but neglected Dorie (30 Rock's Jane Krakowski),girlfriend of his friend Marlon (Omar Epps) - Lonette (Are We There Yet's Nia Long),turbulent alcoholic Nikki (Sienna Miller) and rich older woman Liz (Susan Sarandon),he finds problems. He finds he has to take much more respo0nbility as these relationships become difficult, with such occurrences like erectile dysfunction, pregnancy, suspected testicular cancer and much more, coming to the conclusion brief encounters aren't the way to go. Also starring Tara Summers as Carol and Dick Latessa as Joe. Law is obviously better looking than he is really getting into the character, the American setting isn't really a really big deal apart from maybe some of the lifestyle and stuff, it's just a cheap way to hype it up a bit, and it just adds to its feel of not being as good as the original. It won the Golden Globe for Best Original Song for Mick Jagger and David A. Stewart's "Old Habits Die Hard". Jude Law was number 60, and Susan Sarandon number 25 on The 100 Greatest Movie Stars, Law was also number 10 on The 50 Greatest British Actors. Okay!

Alfie (Jude Law) is a womanizer limousine driver living in Manhattan. He is full of himself, and has several different girls on the go. Whether it's single mom Julie (Marisa Tomei) or best friend's girl Lonette (Nia Long),he can't help himself. It's not until Liz (Susan Sarandon) that he gets a taste of his own medicine. Is it possible for him to find true love with party girl Nikki (Sienna Miller)?

This is a very shallow movie about a very shallow man. Instead of the brutality of Michael Caine's Alfie, we get a flashy Jude Law. Even the visual styling of those single word advertisements in the background gives a superficial flashy feel to the movie. Breaking down the 4th wall gives little more than Jude Law spewing out his shallow philosophy.

It wallows too long in the shallow end of the pool. It's very repetitive. It's obvious that Alfie is getting his due rewards in the end, but it takes too long to get started. When he can't get it up, I don't know if we're suppose to be rooting for impotence. Alfie is too much of a cartoon. Even the final monologue isn't as deep as you may think.