If only the script matched Flyboys' graphics in this First World War flick.

Only the good die young in Tony Bill's wartime drama, which harks back to the era of bi-planes and "chocks away". Set in 1916, Flyboys is the true story of a group of Americans who fought alongside the French while their country was still neutral.

The acrobatic sequences are thrilling and battle footage of real airplanes is cleverly augmented with digital animation.

Unfortunately, the screenplay is poor - a flimsy romantic subplot offsets the macho posturing and the drama tends to be superficial and stereotyped. James Franco looks great but lacks emotional depth, sticking out his jaw with purpose.