Film critics have savaged controversial movie The Da Vinci Code ahead of its world premiere on the opening day of the Cannes Film Festival. Director Ron Howard's adaptation of Dan Brown's bestselling novel - which stars Tom Hanks and Audrey Tautou - has been described as "plodding" and a "dud" prior to its international release on Friday.

Hollywood Reporter reviewer Kirk Honeycutt describes Hanks' portrayal of symbologist Robert Langdon as "remote, even wooden", and he is just as tough on the film: "Da Vinci never rises to the level of a guilty pleasure. Too much guilt. Not enough pleasure."

British trade magazine Screen International's Lee Marshall adds, "I thought it was plodding and there was a complete lack of chemistry between Audrey Tautou and Tom Hanks."

British journalist David Sexton, who is the Evening Standard newspaper's literary editor, is also no fan of the sure-fire blockbuster. He says, "Historical hokum with welcome outbreaks of hilarious bad taste."

Producers remain confident of box office success thanks to the 40 million copies of Brown's book which have been sold around the world.

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)