Mini Reviews
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.
Sleeping Beauty (out Jun 23) is about a young uni student named Lucy who accepts a high-paying job with a secretive escort agency that specialises in fulfilling people’s fetishes and fantasies. It's beautifully shot but I'm not sure what the film is trying to say. I don't know who to recommend it to either. As a critic, consider me both deflated and defeated. Grade: C.
Kung Fu Panda 2 (out Jun 23) saw our beloved panda go on a journey to find inner peace. I wasn't as lucky. The animation is top-notch and there are a few laughs but this isn't as interesting or as heartfelt as the original. The villain (a goofy peacock) is boring and the storyline was average at best. Grade: B-.
Little White Lies (out Jun 16) is a French film about a group of friends who go on a two week holiday together. I didn't buy everything that the movie was selling but it definitely left me thinking afterwards. It makes some pointed comments about how self-centred we can be sometimes. Grade: B+.
Bridesmaids (out Jun 16) is too long for a comedy but it's definitely worth a look. Most will love it for its "laugh out loud moments" but I was more impressed with how it captured the reality of two childhood friends slowly drifting apart. Kristen Wiig delivers a standout performance. Grade: A-.
