BEN X

THERE IS - on paper, at least - plenty to applaud in this low- budget Belgian drama. Making an attempt to convey the loneliness of Asperger's syndrome and to address the horrors of bullying, the film certainly has its big, warm heart in the right place.

Ben Xalso draws on a clever high concept. At school and at home the teenage protagonist is hopelessly hampered by his inability to connect with friends and family. However, when playing a computer role-playing game, he becomes a brave, handsome warrior named Ben X. As the real Ben goes about his business, images of his virtual self in similar situations punctuate the action.

Sadly, the film doesn't quite come off. Young Greg Timmermans is not to be faulted

in the title role. Without resorting to theatrical tics, he does a good job of conveying the inner turmoil of a kid lacking significant communication skills. As he suffers savage bullying from classmates and develops a relationship online, even the meanest viewer will hope things eventually work out for the best.

But the video game conceit is never properly exploited, the dialogue is painfully clunky, and the preposterous conclusion plays like a parody of Mission: Impossiblefrom the makers of Scary Movie.

All of which is a shame. There is a great film to be made about the relationship between computer avatars and their creators. There is a great film to be made about the misunderstandings that surround Asperger's syndrome. There is even, I'm sure, a great film to be made about teenage life in suburban Belgium.

For all its honourable intentions, Ben Xis none of those movies.