THINGS GO SWIMMINGLY ON A `CLEAR DAY'.

Byline: Glenn Whipp Film Critic

The ads for inspirational, feel-good drama "On a Clear Day" sport the following simple-minded, but truthful blurb: "If you love 'The Full Monty,' you'll adore 'On a Clear Day.' " And while this new movie does not feature working-class Brits dropping their pants to cure the middle-age blues, it does contain the same whimsical formula and forced folksiness. It's a tad more somber, if only for the absence of Tom Jones from the soundtrack.

Like the "Full Monty" boys, the hero of "On a Clear Day" is a blue-collar fellow who has been laid off from his job without so much as a thank you. Frank (Peter Mullan), though, is 55, so the blow hurts a little more. He has spent his life working for a Glasgow shipbuilder; shortly after being given his walking papers, he leaves for work as if nothing had happened. The man literally has no idea what to do with the rest of his life.

Frank does like to swim. As he spends more time in the water, he comes up with a goal that gives his days a sense of purpose. Frank's dream also serves as a character-building exercise for his circle of daft sidekicks. There's Eddie (Sean McGinley), who - unlike Frank - swallowed his pride to remain employed at the shipyard, as well as timid Norman (Ron Cook), bullied Chan (Benedict Wong) and impish Danny (Billy Boyd).

Because Frank's dream involves swimming, it dredges up an episode from his past, an incident that long ago turned Frank inward and drove a wedge between him and son Rob (Jamie Sives). Director Gaby Dellal and first-time screenwriter Alex Rose provide periodic, jumbled flashbacks to the event in an effort to push the movie out of shallow waters. But they can't resist ladling on an extra spoonful of syrupy sentiment or broad comedy, which constantly works against their more serious purposes.

Scottish actor Mullan isn't much known across the Atlantic, but he grounds the movie with a determined dignity that goes beyond the material. (Brenda Blethyn plays Frank's wife, but you've seen her performance before.) And even though the movie doesn't quite earn it, the finale builds to a lump-in-the-throat moment that is hard to resist - even if you didn't particularly love "The Full Monty."

Glenn Whipp, [phone]

glenn.whipp(at)dailynews.com

ON A CLEAR DAY - Two and one half stars

Our rating: (PG-13: some language)

Starring: Peter Mullan, Brenda Blethyn.

Director: Gaby Dellal.

Running time: 1 hr. 38 min.

Playing: Pacific's The Grove Stadium 14, Los Angeles; Landmark's Westside Pavilion, West Los Angeles.

In a nutshell: Another variation of the British feel-good, inspirational dramedy, this time concerning a laid-off shipbuilder who finds new purpose in life.

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Photo:

Joan Redmond (Brenda Blethyn) suspects her husband is keeping a secret from her in ``On a Clear Day.''