Stone Of Destiny (PG)

3:08pm Thursday 20th November 2008

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Stars: Charlie Cox, Kate Miara, Billy Boyd, Stephen McCole, Ciaron Kelly, Peter Mullan, Robert Carlyle
Running time: 96 mins
Rating: Three stars

WRITER-director Charles Martin Smith is an American, whom you may recall as one of the young stars of American Graffiti. An odd choice, you may think, to helm a picture about a key moment in Scottish history - the day in 1950 when a group of Scottish nationalists broke into Westminster Abbey and "liberated" the symbol of Scotland's nationhood, the Stone of Destiny.

They were caught eventually but not before the theft had stirred up Scottish pride and ignited calls for independence.

The whole affair resembles an old Ealing comedy like Whiskey Galore, with its slightly eccentric characters and idealistic students who plan breaking-and-entering into Westminster Abbey like a rag week prank.

Charlie Cox, the dashing hero from Stardust, plays Glasgow University student Ian Hamilton, whose account is the basis for the film.

He's spurred into action by the nationalistic speeches of rector John Macormick (Robert Carlyle, lending his weight to the project in a cameo role).

Cox (a Brit playing a Scot) makes a charming hero with Mara (an American actress playing a Scot) as his female co-conspirator and sometime romantic diversion.