In addition, he maintains a casual relationship with single mother Julie, his "semi-regular-quasi-sort-of-girlfriend thing", and unhappily married Dorie.

When Alfie goes to Julie's for a booty call, she immediately asks him to leave, confronting him as she had discovered Dorie's underwear in her rubbish bin—he had discarded them after finding them in his pocket.

Following repeated failures to achieve an erection, Alfie sees a doctor, who tells him he is perfectly healthy, and his impotence is due to stress.

He meets Nikki, a beautiful but unstable woman, and they quickly embark on a passionate, turbulent relationship.

A black and white photograph of Michael Caine representing Alfie Elkins Sr. appears during the film's credits.

The film was shot throughout England, mostly locations doubling for New York City, along with on-set shooting in Manhattan.

"[8] Todd McCarthy from Variety describes the film as "a breezy, sexy romp with a conscience that reflects in obvious but interesting ways on societal changes over the intervening 38 years.

"[9] Roger Ebert enjoyed the film, praising Law's performance and saying that "on its own terms, it's funny at times and finally sad and sweet.

The story's observations about male behavior aren't earth shattering...but what gives it its kick is how Alfie takes the film audience into his confidence.

In both films, the character talks directly into the camera, a disarming strategy that brings us closer to this serial seducer than we might want.

Playing narrator turns Alfie into a tour guide and something of his own defense attorney; it also means he has to enrapture the audience along with his conquests.