Advance word on Sly Stallone's new movie, "D-TOX", is less than inspirational. The run-of-the-mill thriller looks set to go the way of last year's dismal "Driven" and the "Get Carter" remake, which didn't even get a UK release. This poor trail of recent movies doesn't present a rosy-looking future for the fading monosyllabic star.

Stallone has managed to fit in plenty of flops in a career which has grossed over $2 billion worldwide during the 70s and 80s. Time and again, the muscled one has returned to his "Rocky" and "Rambo" characters for box office redemption.

After the 'surprise' flop of "Rocky V" in 1990, Stallone turned to comedy with "Oscar" and the simply awful "Stop or my Mom Will Shoot". The results were disastrous so Sly returned to playing a hero instead of a shmuck for "Cliffhanger" in 1993. With a $300 million worldwide gross, he was back on form.

He followed this up with 90s 'hits' "Demolition Man", "The Specialist", and "Daylight". These flicks didn't break the all-important $100 million at the US box office but they scored well internationally.

Since then, however, Sly's physique might have grown but his movie success has hit a downward slide. He insists on playing the same remorse-filled, washed-out, spiritless character that appeared in the lacklustre "Assassins" after similarly bombing in "Rocky V". At least in "CopLand" this character fitted in, but Sly is finding it hard to break the habit of playing losers.

But the man should know better - he's only ever succeeded in the public heart when he's playing a hero, usually fighting against impossible odds. The spirited character of Rocky won an Oscar back in 1976 because he represented achievement at a time when America was reeling from the Vietnam War. And who didn't shadow-box to the shower in full dressing gown regalia?

Sly's next film after "D-TOX" is already in the can but the omens are hardly good - it's a comedy. He's a bodyguard in "Avenging Angelo", helping Madeleine Stowe avenge the death of her father. Sounds ominously like "The Specialist" played for laughs.

Stallone's career may have peaked in the 80s, but he still commands £20 million a movie. So only the foolish (and any critic who can put pen to paper) would write him off completely.

"D-TOX" opens in UK cinemas on Friday 1st February 2002.