  We present CCD UBVI photometric and medium/high resolution spectroscopic
observations obtained in the field of the previously unstudied dissolving open
cluster candidates NGC 5385, NGC 2664 and Collinder~21. Our analysis stands on
the discussion of star counts, photometry, radial velocity distribution, and
proper motions available from the Tycho~2 catalogue. All the three aggregates
clearly emerge from the mean Galactic field, but, regrettably, the close
scrutiny of proper motions and radial velocities reveals that we are not facing
any physical group. Instead, what we are looking at are just chance alignments
of a few bright unrelated stars. Our analysis casts some doubt on the Bica et
al. (2001) criterion to look for Possible Open Cluster Remnants. It seems
mandatory to define a better criterion to adopt for further investigations.
