Mini Reviews
Ice Age 3: Dawn Of The Dinosaurs (out Jul 1) sees Manny, Ellie, Diego go on a journey into a lost underworld to rescue Sid from a giant dinosaur. They befriend a weasel named Buck (well voiced by Simon Pegg) who helps out along the way. It's a fun adventure that the kids should lap up. Grade: B.
Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen (out now) is a flat, tiring experience. It just goes on forever. The characters are dull and about all I can remember is watching 20,000 explosions, 500 helicopter fly-overs and 80 slow motion running sequences. Did they even write a script? Grade: C+.
Disgrace (out now) is an Australian film set in South Africa. It’s about a 53-year-old college professor who must confront himself and the reality of life is South Africa after his daughter his raped by 3 men. It’s a good film but heavy going at times. Grade: B+.
Noodle (out now) is a suspensful, feel-good flick from Israel about a flight attendant who is left to care for a small Chinese boy after his mother is deported by immigration. Can she find a way to reunite him with his mother? Nice. Grade: B+.
Year One (out Jun 18) might have been funny in the year 10,000 B.C. but not today. It's a feeble comedy starring Jack Black and Michael Cera that has 10 flat jokes for every good one. They just try too hard. Grade: C+.
The Proposal (out Jun 18) is the death of cinema. It stars Sandra Bullock as an overbearing boss who forces her assistant (Ryan Reynolds) to marry her to avoid being deported. Every scene felt fake and the end result is yet another superficial, unrealistic romantic comedy. Kill me. Grade: C-.
Shall We Kiss? (out now) is a slow paced French romantic comedy about a friendship which transforms into a relationship after sharing an innocent kiss. I walked out after 50 minutes due to boredom. My time is more valuable than this. Grade: C.
Land Of The Lost (out now) is exactly where this film belongs. It's a silly mix of science fiction and dirty comedy. Is it meant for kids or adults? I'm not sure. It stars Will Ferrell as a scientist who travels back in time to an alternate universe and must find a way home. Avoid. Grade: C.
The Hangover (out Jun 11) is the story of four guys to go to Vegas for a buck's night. They wake up in the morning with no memory of the last 10 or so hours and have to try to piece it together. Where's the groom? Why is there a tiger in the bathroom? You never know what's going to happen next and it's a madcap ride. Grade: A-.
I Really Hate My Job (out now) is awful, awful, awful. It's getting a 2 week cinema release here in Brisbane and is out on DVD later this month. Don't see it at the cinema. Don't see it on video. It's about 5 women and their one night trying to run a small restaurant. Have I seen worse acting in a film this year? Grade: C-.
Sunshine Cleaning (out Jun 11) is the tale of two troubled sisters who, in an effort to make some cash, start their own crime scene clean up business. Apparently there's money in cleaning up after dead people. A few too many tears are shed (by the characters, not me) but it's got some nice quirks and a heartwarming tone. Grade: B+.
