Kevin (Sinbad) is a poor single man living in Pittsburgh, with his hamster, in a small apartment. An orphan, Kevin once bragged to his grade school classmates that, one day, he would be "very wealthy". Trouble is, none of his get-rich-quick schemes have panned out and Kevin is in debt to the local mobsters. When they come to collect, Keving speeds off to the airport to catch a flight. However, with the mob on his heels, Kevin overhears an even better opportunity for him to lay low for awhile, at the airport terminal. It seems that Gary (Phil Hartman)and his children are waiting for an old camp friend that Gary has not seen for 20 years. Kevin seizes the moment and declares himself to be Dr. Derek Bond, a dentist, to Gary and the kids. Gary is delighted to see him and takes him home. Once there, in heavenly suburbia, Kevin finds out he is supposed to make a speech at the local elementary school, on career day. Okay. Kevin also learns he is reputed to be a strict vegetarian. Horrors. But, as the family showers him with gifts and parties, Kevin wonders, as do we all, how soon will they learn the truth about his identity? This is a great film, very funny and very spirit-lifting. Sinbad's Kevin is a such a lovable character, despite his scheming, that everyone is hoping for a happy ending. Hartman, likewise, is dead-pan funny in his role as a much put-upon lawyer with a family that looks perfect but which, in reality, has some problems to overcome. The setting is lovely, the costumes are nice, and the look of the film is quite wonderful, too. Do you want to cheer up yourself and your family in a big fashion? This is the film for you, as to watch it is to love it and laugh it up till the clouds overhead are long gone.

Since today is Sinbad's 50th birthday, I wanted to talk about one of his movies. "Houseguest" is probably the sort of movie that can only appeal to eleven-year-old boys, but it has its moments. Portraying a debt-ridden man (Sinbad) posing as the friend of a suburban man (Phil Hartman) and moving into his house to avoid some gangsters, it's pretty silly, but not harming anything. A particularly goofy scene is the whole "washing balls" sketch.

So, it's the sort of movie that you watch with best buds. Don't expect a religious experience, just expect to laugh (I'm sure that you will). Among other things, it goes to show what we lost when Phil Hartman was murdered. Also starring Kim Greist and Jeffrey Jones.

Kevin Franklin has a dream, but he's having trouble finding the fast lane to his first million.

Borrowing from loan sharks to finance a new business, Kevin finds himself in debt to the Gasperini Brothers.

Seizing an opportunity to escape, Kevin passes himself off as a prominent Baltimore dentist to an unsuspecting family, The Youngs, becoming their house-guest for a weekend.......

Sinbad was never a big star here in the UK, the movie he will be remembered for here is Jingle All The Way, as the one who was annoying Schwarzenegger for the duration of the film.

But as always in the US, the nineties always seemed to give popular TV stars a three picture deal, David Caruso was one, but he sank big time, despite some big films, and there was this guy, who was given some safer projects.

And this is one of them, a film where the family are not getting along, a supposed family friend arrives,who is a little different from before, and before you can say 'it's a wonderful life' everyone loves each other, and the bad guys are given their just desserts.

Sinbad is watchable, and the rest of the cast are stereotypical to this genre, but in the end, its harmless, slightly diverting stuff.

And that would make a wonderful poster quote 'slightly diverting'

Wonderfully endorsed by McDonalds....