Mini Reviews
Larry Crowne (out Jul 21) is about a guy who gets fired from his job, goes to college, kicks starts his life and finds a new love. It’s a clean, innocent film that I could safely take my mother to see. It wasn’t for me however. It felt like I was being smothered with “feel good” moments. Everything about the story and its characters is too far detached from reality. Grade: C+.
Beautiful Lies (out Jul 21) is a quirky but ultimately disappointing French romance about a young hairdresser who can't see that the love of her life is right in front of her. Why did these characters have to be so unlikeable? I hated all of them! It's a shame because the always beautiful Audrey Tautou deserves better. Grade: C.
Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (out Jul 13) is good enough. It's not the best in the series but neither was the final book. The action sequences are terrific but the character interaction is underdone and the emotional impact wasn't as strong as I'd hoped. Despite it's bleak tone, this should satisfy most Harry Potter fans. Grade: B+.
Mozart's Sister (out now) is slow to start but I eventually warmed to the story. Set in the late 18th Century, it focuses on the famous composer's older sister and her efforts to outshine her younger brother and earn her father's respect. It plays out as you might expect but I still found this to be an interesting piece of history. Grade: B.
I Love You Phillip Morris (out Jul 14) is best described as an inferior version of Catch Me If You Can. It's about a con artist who keeps escaping from prison and keeps stealing from everyone he knows. I wasn't a fan. The soundtrack is strange, the romance is cheesy and Jim Carey is a poor choice for the leading role (I particularly hated his accent). Grade: C+.
Special Treatment (out Jul 7) is a French film about a peculiar relationship that develops between a prostitute and a psychiatrist. I found it mildly interesting but it doesn't go anywhere substantial and its supporting characters are poorly developed. Grade: B-.
Mr Popper's Penguins (out now) will be a perfect production for plainly pleased persons. That said, I thought it was a load of garbage. A guy who inherits a group of penguins and jeopardises their well-being by keeping them in his apartment for his kids and ex-wife to play with. Too silly for me to go along with. Jim Carrey deserves better than this. Grade: C.
Transformers: Dark Of The Moon (out Jun 30) contains some serious, serious action to the backdrop of a deafening, deafening soundtrack. I think you get the point. It seems to be making up reasons to prolong the drama in the final hour but I still enjoyed this. The cast is great and the special effects are amazing. For lovers of action. Grade: B+.
The Trip (out Jun 30) sees Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon go on a week long trip together to critique some of the best restaurants in the UK. It's light, easy to watch and provides its fair share of laughs. The food looks good too! On the flip side, the imitations are repetitive and the ending is both obvious and unsatisfying. Grade: B.
The Tree Of Life (out Jun 30) is ambitious. Instead of telling us a conventional story, director Terrence Malick has provided a series of fragmented scenes to leave us reflecting on our life, loves and stories. I confess to being disappointed. Too much of it felt forced, heavy-handed. I wish I could ask Malick a few questions. Does anyone have his phone number? Grade: B-.
Cars 2 (out now) isn't as good as the original but it's still worth a look (perhaps in 2D as opposed to the more expensive 3D). Lightning McQueen and his best friend Mater must stop a not-so-nice group of cars with fiendish plans. I don't think there's as much for adults this time around but it makes the most of its many international settings and kids should enjoy. Grade: B.
