Pre-fame Sandra

TWO years before she became famous driving a bus for Keanu Reeves in Speed, Sandra Bullock was struggling with the sluggish, often silly comedy Love Potion No 9 (Pearl, 9.30pm).

It is loosely based on the classic Leiber-Stoller golden oldie (from 1959), which is about the most startling thing that can be said of it.

Love Potion No 9 was written by Dale Launer and marks his directing debut.

Launer also wrote Ruthless People and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, both of which were a marked improvement on this. 'Dilute this potion with water, one thousand to one. Then take a sip . . . and swallow. When you speak, women will find you fascinating!' a gypsy tells mild-mannered biochemist Paul Matthews (Tate Donovan).

Bullock plays Donovan's colleague. Together they test the potion and a number of not-so-hilarious situations ensue. The scene in which a cat accidentally drinks some of the elexir and spends the night getting amorous on Bullock's carpet is especially forgettable.

The cast of Love Potion No 9 is interesting. Not only is this a rare chance to see Bullock pre-fame, but the observant among you - or those of you who manage to stay awake - will notice Dale Midkiff, of the television series Time Trax, as a conceited jerk who sleeps with Bullock when he feels like it and ignores her the rest of the time, and Adrian Paul, of Highlander, as a Bullock colleague.