YE OLDE COMEDICK FORMULAE.

Byline: Bob Strauss Film Critic

Martin Lawrence plays a South Central L.A. theme-park worker, Jamal Walker, who somehow finds himself transported back in time to 14th-century England, where he soon proceeds to Martinize the place.

That should be all you need to know about ``Black Knight.'' If the concept sounds amusing to you, you will probably be amused by the movie. If you're tired of seeing Lawrence do the same homey shtick in whatever fish-out-of-water situation screenwriters like Darryl J. Quarles (``Big Momma's House'') contriveto plop him down in, you will find the movie tiresome.

Regardless of the Martin factor, though, ``Black Knight'' probably generates a little more fun more effortlessly than ``A Knight's Tale,'' the year's other anachronistic shining armor romp, managed to.

Variously referred to as ``Skywalker'' and ``Moor,'' Jamal initially ingratiates himself into the court of usurper King Leo (Kevin Conway) when, mistakenly thinking that he's at a medieval theme park that is a rival to the one he works at, he tells everyone that he comes from Florence and Normandie. Mistaken for an emissary of the Norman count who is scheduled to wed the king's promiscuous daughter, the strange-speaking fellow is received lavishly - especially after he teaches the court minstrels to play ``Dance to the Music'' and all the lords and ladies how to boogie down with their bad selves.

Jamal also quickly earns the enmity of the king's ruthless enforcer, Sir Percival (Vincent Regan), who is jealous of the inroads the interloper is making with beautiful Nubian handmaiden Victoria (Marsha Thomason). For her part, Victoria mistakes Jamal for an assassin sent by the rebel underground she's a member of that wants to restore the rightful queen. Even more reluctant than Jamal to get involved in this dangerous plot is Sir Knolte (Tom Wilkinson, of ``The Full Monty'' and ``In the Bedroom''), a once mighty warrior who owes the, um, Norman a favor.

But, of course, Jamal gets into a heap of trouble anyway - and since he's played by Martin Lawrence, who is nobody's idea of a Connecticut Yankee, he makes a lot of noise and faces about it.

Humor is strictly on a Martin-goes-to-the-privy, Martin-gets-fresh-with- the-ladies, Martin-has-trouble-riding-the-horse level. As King Leo notes of one extended screw-up by the envoy, who also claims to be a jester, ``You have to admire his commitment. He's no longer funny, but he refuses to give up the joke.'' That's not only a perceptive self-criticism of ``Black Knight,'' but a sound description of Lawrence's overall career trajectory.

Director Gil Junger is a TV comedy veteran - he directed the coming-out episode of ``Ellen'' - who made his movie debut with the teen Shakespeare update ``10 Things I Hate About You.'' He's not unequipped at staging sight gags, evidenced by the montage in which Jamal trains peasant rebels in full-contact football fighting techniques. But Junger, like everyone else involved in ``Black Knight,'' could have found smarter, funnier things to use celluloid for.

``BLACK KNIGHT''

(Rated PG-13: violence, language, sex)

The stars: Martin Lawrence, Marsha Thomason, Tom Wilkinson, Vincent Regan, Kevin Conway.

Behind the scenes: Directed by Gil Junger. Written by Darryl J. Quarles, Peter Gaulke and Gerry Swallow. Produced by Arnon Milchan, Michael Green, Paul Schiff and Quarles. Released by 20th Century Fox.

Running time: One hour, 40 minutes.

Playing: Citywide.

Our rating: Two and one half stars

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Martin Lawrence romances Marsha Thomaso in the fisht-out-of-water comedy ``Black Knight.''