Yet another British film begins with a shot of Tower Bridge appearing within the first five minutes.

Perfectly appropriate, perhaps, for the story of a psychiatrist called Hector (Simon Pegg) who “enjoys predictability, answers questions with questions and is patient with his patients”.

But what is more important – the pursuit of happiness (a Will Smith film) or the happiness to be found in a pursuit?

With his patients not getting any happier, Hector tells girlfriend Clara (Rosamund Pike) he feels like a fraud.

And so off he goes on an international journey to see if things like having more than one woman at once creates happiness.

Based on the bestselling novel by François Lelord and directed by Blackpool-born Peter Chelsom (Hear My Song), Hector and the Search for Happiness will put the odd grin on your face, but it’s whimsical to the point of being an itch you can’t scratch.

Although the solid-sounding international supporting cast includes old flame Toni Collette (Australian), businessman Stellan Skarsgard (Swedish), drugs baron Jean Reno (French) and psychology professor Christopher Plummer (Canadian), the film always feels like a British story directed by a Wes Anderson fan – a curious mixture of styles with regular peaks and troughs dribbling with annoying music.

Compared with his initial incarnation, Pegg’s subsequent self-indulgent travel mode persona makes him resemble hard-man soccer star Stuart Pearce playing a trainspotting geek smoking helium cigars.

The script has a creeping weariness reminiscent of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013).

Like his previous ‘solo’ films – including Burke and Hare, A Fantastic Fear of Everything and Run, Fatboy, Run – this film is more miss than hit.

When one of Britain’s most successful stars tries to say with a perfectly straight face,“I’m not rich and I’m not important," you'll find it impossible to believe him!