Mini Reviews
Resident Evil: Retribution (out now) sucked the life out of me. It features tedious, FX-laden action and god-awful dialogue. This series is going nowhere and needs to be put to death. Grade: C-.
Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (out Sep 13) is more of the same from our beloved animals. This time around, they leave Africa and travel through Europe with a group of circus animals. I've never been a big fan of this series and with its flat ending, I can't say this film improves matters. A few laughs though. Grade: B-.
Beasts Of The Southern Wild (out Sep 13) takes a little while to warm up (such a strange setting) but it develops in a moving story that explores the relationship between father and daughter in a remote community near New Orleans. In her first acting role, 8-year-old Quvenzhané Wallis is simply extraordinary. Grade: A-.
Hit & Run (out Sep 6) is surprisingly entertaining. A simple action-comedy about a guy in witness protection who drives his girlfriend to Los Angeles. It's a movie that's funny without trying too hard to be funny. Stars Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell share some sharp Seinfeld-esque conversations and the supporting characters are all put to good use. Grade: A-.
Love (out now) is set in the not-to-distant future and revolves around an astronaut on a space station who loses contact with Earth and has no way of returning home. The isolation soon starts to take its toll. A great concept but it's a strange execution. This film is certainly not pitched at mainstream audiences. Grade: B-.
Kath & Kimderella (out Sep 6) is for people who have a sense of humour that is the opposite of my own. I based this on the fact that there were plenty of laughs from those around me in the cinema. Sadly, I thought the story was terrible and the jokes dismal. Grade: C-.
Your Sister’s Sister (out Sep 6) is largely set in one location and features only 3 characters of significance. A guy and two girls are spending a few days together in a holiday home and all are looking for a way to escape their problems in the real world. This was an enjoyable comedy-drama filled with lengthy dialogue-driven sequences. Loved the cast. Grade: A-.
Monsieur Lazhar (out Sep 6) was nominated for best foreign language film and begins with a shocking event – a teacher committing suicide in a classroom. We then follow the kids trying to cope with the grief and a mysterious substitute teacher who tries to help them. I was expecting more from the finale but this is a still a moving drama. Grade: B+.
Chinese Take-Away (out now) centres on a quiet, introverted hardware store owner who, by chance, bumps into a young Chinese man who has come to Argentina in search of his long-lost uncle. There are a few head-scratching moments but I liked these characters and the film's simple, heart-warming feel. Grade: B+.
The Expendables 2 (out Aug 30) is more of a spoof than an action film. The start is messy but I laughed a few times towards the end. A cameo from Chuck Norris steals the show. Don't get too excited though. It's a far cry from the classic action films that I remember growing up. Grade: B-.
Moonrise Kingdom (out Aug 30) is the latest from Wes Anderson (Rushmore, The Life Aquatic). It’s set on a small island and revolves around two 12-year-olds who run away from home and cause much mayhem. The finale is a little silly but for the most part, this is funny, off-beat and loveable. So many scenes will leave you with raised eyebrows and a wry smile. Grade: A-.
