A Knight's Tale
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Starring: Heath Ledger, Rufus Sewell, Mark Addy, Laura Fraser, Paul Bettany
Directed by: Brian Helgeland
Running time: Two hours and 20 minutes

Have you ever asked yourself how people amused themselves 800 years ago when there was no football and no baseball? It's a question that might not seem terribly pertinent, but is interesting nonetheless.

There are a lot of us who cannot imagine life without their favourite team's Saturday matches - people that measure life not in calendar years, but in sporting seasons. A Knight's Tale gives an irreverent and cheerful view of the habits and constraints of the age. The idea of crowds singing `We Will Rock You' and making Mexican waves at jousting tournaments is not as preposterous as it sounds. It is fun.

A Knight's Tale is largely a vehicle for Australia's hottest acting export Heath Ledger (10 Things I Hates about You, The Patriot) and he does not disappoint. He is organic and commands interest among a cast of young actors that find it easy to please and amuse. The film is one that will further their careers and delight the viewer along the way.

William Thatcher (Ledger) is a lowly squire who dreams of becoming a knight and to unsaddle other knights in jousting duels just as his master does. The master dies and the ball starts to roll. William dons his master's armour and mounts his horse - but his more down-to-earth companions remind him that he has to be of noble birth.

This is a problem until they meet a wayward gambler who has a way with words and goes by the name of Geoffrey Chaucer (Paul Bettany). He is ready to lend his expertise with documents and produce a charter of nobility for Will in exchange for food and company. The deal is done and Will is soon making waves in the jousting circles. His exploits pitch him against the Heir to the English throne, who is impressed, and the evil champion Count Adhemar (Rufus Sewell) who is not so impressed. The latter suspects him of being an impostor and an adversary for the heart of fair lady Jocelyn (Shannyn Sossamon).

There will be people who complain that Queen's "We Are the Champions" or Thin Lizzy's "The Boys Are Back on Town" are out of place. Technically they are, but who really cares as long as they blend into the sporting atmosphere. Director Brian Helgeland (Oscar winner for the script of LA Confidential and director of Payback) argues that an orchestral score would have been equally anachronistic, since there were no orchestras back then.

Helgeland has also been quoted as a great champion of actor Paul Bettany who won the critics, but not the public's, approval with last year's Gangster Number One. It should be quite pleasing for both Helgeland and Bettany that the latter delivers the most memorable performance in the film as Chaucer, who warms up the crowd like a boxing announcer.

The film wears all its anachronisms on its sleeve and evades any of the empty solemnity that is often associated with tales of love and sword fights.

The film is an easy but smart adventure that is fun and comfortable with its limited aspirations. It does not flounder into the empty self-importance of summer counterparts such as The Mummy Returns or the upcoming Tomb Raider. Instead it always looks for an understanding ironic wink. Those that manage to muster this are sure to enjoy what they see.