Brew up a steaming cuppa, grab the duvet and cuddle up for a night on the sofa with vids Maybe Baby and Three to Tango.

Maybe Baby (15) Warner Home Video.

Rating: ***.

BEN Elton's deeply personal tale about a couple striving to conceive a baby is a sparkling romantic comedy which is clearly very close to the director's heart.

Elton's debut film, based on his own best-seller Inconceivable, focuses on a couple of thirtysomethings who outwardly have everything they could wish for - glamorous jobs, a comfortable lifestyle and piles of cash.

The one item missing in their lives is the very thing they crave - having a baby.

But despite increasingly outlandish attempts at conception, the couple fail miserably, leaving their marriage in a parlous state.

Hugh Laurie and Joely Richardson shine together in the lead roles and make an attractive pairing.

Laurie plays a BBC scriptwriter suffering from writer's block who hits on the novel idea of turning their domestic experiences into his latest screenplay.

Richardson is the increasingly hormonal wife who is infuriated to discover Laurie has gone behind her back and turned their private life into screen entertainment.

While the storyline will strike a chord with many childless couples dreaming of starting a family, Elton employs his trademark humour - there are some memorable one-liners - to inject some light relief.

There are some notable cameos to watch out for, including Rowan Atkinson playing an extremely unlikely gynaecologist; Dawn French as a garrulous Aussie nurse; and hippy Emma Thompson, who encourages the couple to indulge in pagan rituals as an aid to conception.

And, given the storyline, Laurie and Richardson are obliged to get their kit off at regular intervals, though the bedroom scenes are still relatively tame by Hollywood standards.

The fact that this British film is a lightweight comedy, rather than following the recent trend of Brit gangster flicks, is another plus point.

And as the credits rolled at the end, I reflected on how incredibly lucky I am to be the father of three children.

Out to rent on January 15.

Three To Tango (12) Warner Home Video.

Rating: **.

MATTHEW Perry's architect faces a difficult dilemma in this post-modern romantic comedy - he is desperate to win a multi-million dollar contract from a client, but he also fancies his mistress something rotten.

To complicate matters further, his would-be boss (Dylan McDermott) wrongly assumes Perry is gay and thinks he's the perfect choice to spy on his girlfriend, played by Neve Campbell.

Three To Tango soon develops into a farce, as Perry attempts to woo Campbell while keeping on the right side of his client.

The film keeps you guessing on the final outcome, though the denouement proves to be so convoluted that it's barely credible.

Nonetheless, there's some fun to be had along the way, with Perry proving there are more strings to his bow than TV's sitcom Friends.

Out to rent on January 8.