A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD (PG)**

Dir: Marielle Heller

With: Tom Hanks, Matthew Rhys, Chris Cooper

Runtime: 109 minutes

MARIELLE Heller’s drama is built around the children’s television entertainer Mr Rogers, who is as familiar to generations of Americans as, say, the cast of Play School or the presenters of Blue Peter might be to British audiences of a certain age. If you don’t know of him, or his easy-osey style, Heller’s picture could be something of a head scratcher initially.

A Beautiful Day is the true story of an investigative reporter (played by Matthew Rhys) whose hackles are raised when he is asked to profile Rogers. He sees an old buffer; Rogers sees another kid who is angry at the dad (Chris Cooper) who left him.Heller (Can You Ever Forgive Me?) has a winning way with a story, gently laying bare each layer, and Hanks is up for an Oscar. But you will need a very sweet tooth – we are talking several boxes of Forrest Gump's chocolates here – to make it through this one. ALISON ROWAT