To say that "Evelyn" is a drastic departure for Pierce Brosnan might be the biggest understatement of the new year. After all, it's been several years since the current 007 played a role that was purely dramatic.

This feel-good drama (based on real-life events that occurred in Ireland during the mid-1950s) is as far a cry from his expected action-adventure pictures as you can possibly imagine. And the appeal of seeing Brosnan do something so different helps the movie succeed in spite of some pretty heavy-handed and fairly manipulative moments.

Of course, this is also one of the most genuinely sweet films to come along in quite some time.

The title refers to young Evelyn Doyle (Sophie Vavasseur), the oldest of three children living with their father, Desmond Doyle (Brosnan), an alcoholic painter and rather unsuccessful tradesman. His wife has recently abandoned him, leaving Desmond in charge of Evelyn and her two siblings — which is sort of ironic, since he can't even take care of himself.

When Desmond's wife reports his parental neglect to the authorities, the Irish courts take the children away, and send Evelyn to a strict Catholic school. So Desmond decides to clean up his act to get his children back, but he'll need considerable help from barmaid Bernadette Beattie (Julianna Margulies) and her lawyer-brother (Stephen Rea). Soon, they turn to Nick Barron (Aidan Quinn), an American lawyer who may be Desmond's best chance — if he has any — of challenging the constitutionality of the court's actions.

This is easily director Bruce Beresford's best, most consistent work since 1989's "Driving Miss Daisy." The film is well-paced and appropriately low-key, and Beresford allows his cast to do most of the work for him. Brosnan is understated and has considerable chemistry with Margulies, as well as the young actors who play his children.

The film could probably use a little more of the title character and a little less of the legal struggles, especially since Vavasseur, a relative newcomer (she had a brief role in last year's "Reign of Fire"), makes the character so downright appealing.

"Evelyn" is rated PG for scattered use of profanity (most of it religiously based) and brief violence (some bar scuffles and scenes of school "punishment"). Running time: 95 minutes.

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E-MAIL: jeff@desnews.com