Classic Friday : My Cousin Vinny (1992) 8/10

Starring : Joe Pesci, Ralph Macchio, Marisa Tomei, Mitchell Whitfield, Fred Gwynne
Director : Jonathan Lynn
Running Time : 116 mins

Billy Gambini (Macchio) and his friend Stan (Whitfield) are pulled over in Alabama, accused of murder and robbery. Believing they’ve been stopped for shoplifting, the two find it hard to believe that the law is taking the crime so seriously, but when they realise how much trouble they could be in, Billy immediately calls his cousin Vinny – unfortunately Vinny has never practised in an actual court of law, and the Judge (Gwynne) takes an instant dislike to Vinny’s New York City ways.

This is a great little movie that has a brilliant plot line that can’t be faulted. The acting is superb, and the way in which Vinny manages to solve the case is masterful. Anyone who is a fan of court room dramas or slapstick comedies will no doubt enjoy this classic jem of a movie that, sadly, was the last to feature Fred Gwynne before he died.

You’ll like this if you liked :

Year One (2009) 8/10

Starring : Jack Black, Michael Cera, Oliver Platt, David Cross, Christopher Mintz-Plasse
Director : Harold Ramis
Running Time : 97 mins

When prehistoric wannabe hunter Zed (Black) is banished from his tribe for eating from the forbidden tree of knowledge, he and his friend Oh (Cera) go travelling in search of new places to live. They arrive at the city of Sodom, where they discover that their old tribe has been captured by warriors and enslaved, so it is down to them to try and rescue their old village, amongst them the women they love.

I actually enjoyed this movie, despite thinking I wouldn’t from the outset. The plot is pretty well thought through, and the humour is witty without being too gross out (other than when Michael Cera has to tub oil into Oliver Platt’s chest!). People who are fans of Jack Black will enjoy his antics, and Cera’s deadpan delivery at times is brilliant.

You’ll like this if you liked : Carry On Cleo

Last Chance Harvey (2008) 8/10

Starring : Dustin Hoffman, Emma Thompson, Eileen Atkins, Kathy Baker, Lian Balaban, James Brolin
Director : Joel Hopkins
Running Time : 93 mins

New York jingle writer Harvey Shine (Hoffman) travels to London for his daughter’s wedding, only to find that he isn’t particularly welcome, what with her step-father Brian (Brolin) taking over the role of father of the bride. Leaving the festivities, he heads back to the airport, only to receive a call on route telling him that he has been replaced at work as well. As he attempts to drown his sorrows at an airport bar, he meets Kate Walker (Thompson), and the two start to form an unlikely relationship.

I really felt sorry for Hoffman in this movie – everyone in his life treated him like crap, and no-one seemed to have any time for him. Based on this, it really did feel nice to have him form a relationship with someone who actually relied on him doing things, rather than dealing with the likes who didn’t want him around at all. I just couldn’t believe how ungrateful his daughter was, but I’m sure there’s a lot of unspoken background sorry to this turn of events. An interesting film that does have something of a feel-good ending.

You’ll like this if you liked : About Schmidt

Meet Bill (2007) 8/10

Starring : Aaron Eckhart, Jessica Alba, Elizabeth Banks, Logan Lerman, Timothy Olyphant
Director : Bernie Goldmann & Melisa Wallack
Running Time : 94 mins

Bill (Eckhart) is a married man, working for his father-in-law doing a job that doesn’t really exist, and spends most of his time sitting around eating chocolate bars while dreaming of buying a doughnut franchise so he can escape from under his father-in-law’s thumb; he just doesn’t have the motivation. But when his wife Jess (Banks) starts an affair with local news anchor Chip (Olyphant), Bill finally decides to do something with his life and win back his wife.

This film basically has no plot, but it’s fun and entertaining and gives a nice example of an ordinary man desperately trying to claw back some dignity from his domineering wife and interfering father-in-law. There are some funny moments and some great set pieces that make this a very amusing movie that doesn’t go too far by becoming preachy or morally superior.

You’ll like this if you liked : American Beauty

BloodRayne (2005) 6/10

Starring : Kristanna Loken, Michael Madsen, Matthew Davis, Ben Kingsley, Michelle Rodriguez, Billy Zane
Director : Uwe Boll
Running Time : 99 mins

Half-human, half-vampire Rayne (Loken) has been living her life as the captive of a travelling freak show, due to her ability to heal her wounds through the intake of another persons blood, but when she manages to escape she seeks revenge on a vampire named Kagan (Kingsley), the person responsible for raping her mother and then killing her.

This movie was okay, and anyone who likes to see a bit of female flesh will enjoy it but, in spite of a number of big name actors, this wasn’t brilliant. Granted, most vampire movies that take themselves too seriously are usually doomed to failure, but the lack of any comic relief, aside from a brief appearance by Meat Loaf, really does cause this movie to suffer quite badly.

You’ll like this if you liked : Blade Trinity

G-Force (2009) 8/10

Starring : Sam Rockwell, Nicolas Cage, Jon Favreau, Penelope Cruz, Tracy Morgan, Zach Galifianakis, Kelli Garner, Bill Nighy, Will Arnett
Director : Hoyt Yeatman
Running Time : 89 mins

A team of apparently genetically engineered guinea pigs have been trained in the art of espionage, but on their first test run they are taken off the mission when the intelligence they retrieved goes missing. Deciding to try and get their good name back, the team embark on a dangerous mission to investigate billionaire Leonard Saber (Nighy), who they suspect is attempting to take over the world through the use of household appliances.

This is an entertaining movie that has enough humour for the whole family and is filled with one-liners that no doubt kids will be repeating around the playground. The celebrity voices used are barely recognisable, but the action is witty and fun filled, and the twist in the tale actually came as a surprise, in spite of being incredibly obvious when you think about it.

You’ll like this if you liked : Cats And Dogs

Classic Friday : ¡Three Amigos! (1986) 8/10

Starring : Steve Martin, Chevy Chase, Martin Short
Director : John Landis
Running Time : 99 mins

When a small Mexican village is overrun by a gang of bandits, the locals decide to call on the only heroic men they know - the Three Amigos! Unfortunately, the heroics of the Amigos is pure thetrics, a show put on for their series of popular movies, and when the Amigos show up they think the whole thing is just a show the village wants them to put on, so when they are faced with real bandits, their true nature comes tothe surface.

This is such a great movie, with some great over the top performances amongst some understated acting. The cast are wonderful together, making a very camp performance out of the whole affair, and the sets are authentically pleasing to the eye. A simple movie, a simple plot, and timeless humour that the whole family can enjoy.

You’ll like this if you liked : Planes, Trains & Automobiles

Obsessed (2009) 7/10

Starring : Idris Elba, Beyonce Knowles, Ali Larter
Director : Steve Shill
Running Time : 105 mins

Derek Charles (Elba) lives a happy life with his wife Sharon (Knowles) and has just been promoted to Asset Manager in his firm, but when his new temp PA, Lisa Sheridan (Larter), shows up at his work place, her behaviour starts to worry him, especially when she starts turning up at his hotel room and his house, accusing him of having had an affair with her. With his word against hers, Derek is forced to leave his family home and seek help in stopping this mad-woman from ruining his life.

This isn’t that bad a movie, although I did think that Knowles spoiled it a little with her performance, though much of that could be blamed on the script writers. When Elba and Larter are pitted against each other in the first half of the movie, this is when the plot is at its strongest, but fans of silly movies about obsession like Fatal Attraction or Single White Female will no doubt enjoy this addition to the genre.

You’ll like this if you liked : Lakeview Terrace

For Your Consideration (2006) 8/10

Starring : Christopher Guest, Catherine O'Hara, Harry Shearer, Eugene Levy
Director : Christopher Guest
Running Time : 82 mins

During the production of a low-budget movie named “Home For Purim”, the cast hear a rumour that one of the performances of one of the stars is going to be nominated for the upcoming Oscars. As the rumours begin to spread like wildfire, with an additional two members being tipped for nomination, the cast begin to appear in TV chat shows, a move that causes the films producers to decide to make some changes to the plot of the movie to make it more appealing to the public.

This is an interesting view on how Hollywood is perceived, with people only taking interest in rubbish films if they think that they are likely to win awards. The cast are wonderfully dry as their characters are transformed throughout the duration of the movie, from useless hacks to useless hacks with ambition.

You’ll like this if you liked : The Last Shot

Eagle Eye (2008) 8/10

Starring : Shia LaBeouf, Michelle Monaghan, Rosario Dawson, Michael Chiklis, Billy Bob Thornton
Director : DJ Caruso
Running Time : 118 mins

Jerry Shaw (LaBeouf) has a twin brother, an over-achiever in the military, but when his brother dies, Jerry finds his life in danger when a fortune in money shows up in his bank account, an enormous cache of weapons are delivered to his flat, and a mysterious voice threatens him with death if he doesn’t follow their every instruction.

This was a surprising well written and well acted political thriller that actually had some surprising twists that kept me on the edge of my seat. LaBeouf is pretty good in the lead role, playing the usual slacker that he constantly gets credited as, and Monaghan was an unusual addition to the plot, playing the terrified mother who is forced by the mysterious voice to betray LaBeaouf.

You’ll like this if you liked : I, Robot

Y.P.F. (2007) 9/10

Starring : Aaron Abrams, Carly Pope, Kristin Booth, Josh Dean, Sonja Bennett, Josh Cooke, Diora Baird, Callum Blue, Ennis Esmer, Peter Oldring, Natalie Lisinska
Director : Martin Gero
Running Time : 87 mins

Five couples, all of whom are at different stages in their relationships, welcome the viewer to watch as they partake in a sexual encounter with their prospective other half. There’s a married couple, whose love life has taken something of a nose dive; a pair of friends who decide to have sex to get over their exes; a pair of exes, who meet up under the pretence of trying to remain friends, a first date couple who get to know each others personalities between the sheets, and a worrying threesome that is more voyeuristic than ménage a trois!

This was a surprisingly funny film that manages to avoid being too gratuitous whilst tackling an obviously gratuitous subject. The acting is top notch, and even the least funny moments manage to be witty and well presented. A definite must see for anyone who has ever been in any sort of relationship.

You’ll like this if you liked : Good Luck Chuck

Monsters Vs Aliens (2009) 9/10

Starring : Reese Witherspoon, Seth Rogen, Hugh Laurie, Will Arnett, Kiefer Sutherland, Rainn Wilson
Director : Robb Letterman & Conrad Vernon
Running Time : 95 mins

On the day of her wedding, Susan Murphy (Witherspoon) is hit by a meteorite that transforms her into a giant. Captured by the US government, she is locked away with all manner of monsters that the government have captured over the years. But when a giant alien robot lands on Earth, threatening massive destruction, the so-called monsters are called in to fight the aliens and stop them from destroying the Earth.

This is a great movie that pays homage to all manner of monster movies from the 1950s, including Attack Of The Fifty Foot Woman, The Fly, The Blob, and The Creature From The Black Lagoon. With a wide range of vocal talents, including a barely recognisable Kiefer Sutherland, and with enough action to make any child gape in amazement, this is sure to become an instant classic with fans of such animations as The Incredibles.

You’ll like this if you liked : Evolution

Classic Friday : Porco Rosso (1992) 7/10

Starring : Michael Keaton, Susan Egan, Cary Elwes, Kimberly Williams-Paisley
Director : Hayao Miyazaki
Running Time : 92 mins

Following the death of his fellow fighter pilots, whose spirits he saw rise into the heavens, a fighter pilot known only as Porco Rosso (Keaton) finds himself cursed with the head of a pig. In spite of his situation, Porco manages to make a living saving people from sky pirates and having air born fights with his arch rival Curtis (Elwes), all the while still having time for the ladies in his life.

This movie is filled with energy, but just isn’t up to the Studio Ghibli standard that I’m used to. There’s a good plot and some nice animation, but there’s nothing particularly outstanding, other than some of the aerial scenes. Kids might find this a little dry and boring, but grown-ups will thoroughly enjoy Porco’s airborne adventures.

You’ll like this if you liked : Steamboy

Frequently Asked Questions About Time Travel (2009) 9/10

Starring : Chris O’Dowd, Marc Wootton, Dean Lennox Kelly, Anna Faris
Director : Gareth Carrivick
Running Time : 79 mins

Ray (O’Dowd), Toby (Wootton) and Pete (Kelly) are three friends who find themselves in a pub discussing their career prospects and time travel, so when Ray is approached by Cassie (Faris), a girl who claims to hail from the future, he obviously suspects a prank by his friends. It’s only when Pete is transported into a future where everyone in the pub has been murdered that the three start to suspect that something very strange might be going on…

I was pleasantly surprised when I sat down to watch this as it had little or no advertising in the UK. The plot was tight and clever, and all the elements of time travel came together beautifully. Although slightly reminiscent of the Red dwarf episode Stasis Leak, this still had enough originality to make it an instant classic, at least in my mind.

You’ll like this if you liked : Back To The Future Part II

Henry Poole Is Here (2008) 6/10

Starring : Luke Wilson, Radha Mitchell, Adriana Barraza, George Lopez, Cheryl Hines
Director : Mark Pellington
Running Time : 99 mins

Henry Poole (Wilson) moves back to his home town to get some peace and quiet, but finds his life disrupted when one of his neighbours, a middle aged woman named Esperanza (Barraza), becomes convinced that the face of Jesus has appeared on the side of Henry's house.

This is a very strange film in which I really couldn’t tell what the writer was aiming for. I guess he was trying to be poignant, but the whole method of obtaining this feeling is sort of lost on me. The plot is so basic it beggars belief, but there are some good moments in between the confusion over Henry Poole’s inability to show any emotion until the closing scenes.

You’ll like this if you liked : The Station Agent

Sex And Death 101 (2007) 8/10

Starring : Simon Baker, Winona Ryder, Leslie Bibb, Julie Bowen
Director : Daniel Waters
Running Time : 113 mins

When (Baker) receives an email listing all the women he's ever slept with, he is intrigued to find that the list also includes all the women he will sleep with in the future. As he progresses through the hundreds of women, finding it impossible for anyone on the list to say no to his limited charms, he discovers that the last name on the list is that of a serial killer...

This is a very silly movie that, in spite of its seemingly frivolous plotline, actually has some depth to it. Baker is likeable as the lothario that finds his life in danger, and Ryder is perfectly manic as the killer in question. No man can resist this storyline, though women might find it a little contemptible.

You’ll like this if you liked : Yes Man

The Mothman Prophecies (2002) 7/10

Starring : Richard Gere, Laura Linney, Will Patton
Director : Mark Pellington
Running Time : mins

John Klein (Gere), a journalist for a large newspaper company, one night finds himself driving hundreds of miles across the country to a small town in West Virginia, where he hears of strange events surrounding the appearance of a strange winged moth-like creature that shows up just before disasters happen.

This is a very weird film, but it is still pretty entertaining. Gere is believably confused for the duration of the film, and the supporting cast make this a tense thriller in spite of having little or no thrills. Fans of alien conspiracy might enjoy this apparently true account of events, btu people who want some substance in their movies might be disappointed.

You’ll like this if you liked : Fire In The Sky

Fast And Furious (2009) 7/10

Starring : Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Jordana Brewster, Michelle Rodriguez
Director : Justin Lin
Running Time : 106 mins

Brian O’Connor (Walker) is now working for the FBI, and has been hired to infiltrate a heroin smuggling ring. He soon meets up once again with fugitive Dominic Toretto (Diesel), who has dealings with the crime ring, and when members of the trafficking organisation kill his sister Letty (Rodriquez), Dominic once again joins forces with Brian to take down the group once and for all.

This is the sort of film that Jean Claude Van Damme would be proud of. It starts with an immediate action scene which, to be fair, is pretty good, and it isn’t until the arrival of the ever-wooden Paul Walker that things get a little boring. Still, fans of the serieswon’t be disappointed by the latest instalment.

You’ll like this if you liked : Redline

Classic Friday : Guess Who's Coming To Dinner (1967) 8/10

Starring : Spencer Tracy, Sidney Poitier, Katherine Hepburn, Katherine Houghton
Director : Stanley Kramer
Running Time : 103 mins

Joey Drayton (Houghton) comes home to see her parents and ask their permission for her to marry medical doctor John Prentice (Poitier). The only problem is Joey is white and John is black, and Joey's parents Matthew (Tracy) and Christina (Hepburn) aren't sure that they want their daughter to have to live with the hypocrisy of society constantly judging their relationship with each other.

This is an absolute classic, filed with some wonderful performances and a no-holds barred approach to the subject matter. Poitier's comic acting as he introduces his girlfriend to his parents is a joy to behold, and in spite of theior racist view on the world, Tracy and Hepburn still genuinely care for their daughter. A must see!

You’ll like this if you liked : The Graduate

Dragon Hunters (2008) 7/10

Starring : Mary Matilyn Mouser, Rob Paulsen, Forest Whitaker, John DiMaggio
Director : Guillaume Ivernel & Arthur Qwak
Running Time : 79 mins

Gwizdo (Paulsen) and Lian-Chu (Whitaker) are two sub-par dragon hunters ho use clever scams to try to make a living from their profession, but when they are called on to aid Lord Arnold, who is living in fear of the fabled World Eater, a monstrous dragon that returns to he kingdom every thirty season to wreak havoc, they find themselves faced with a very deadly foe. But when Lord Arnold decides they might not be the men for the job, his brave Grand Niece, Zoe (Mouser), takes it upon herself to hire the pair.

This was very much a poor man's Shrek without the animals and ogres. Instead we are given very human characters fighting very robotic-looking dragons in an action packed adventure that kids are sure to enjoy. The animation might be a little cheap (it looks a lot like the kind of animation used in Igor), but if you can look past that then you'll most likely find this quite enjoyable.

You’ll like this if you liked : Igor

Letters From Iwo Jima (2006) 7/10

Starring : Ken Watanabe, Kazunari Ninomiya, Tsutoshi Ihara
Director : Clint Eastwood
Running Time : 142 mins

General Tadamichi Kuribayashi (Watanabe) is put in charge of the Japanese forces on the island of Iwo Jima as they desperately prepare for the imminent American invasion who are trying to take the island for use as a strategic base to move their troops from between the States and Japan, but many of Kuribayashi's peers think him unsuitable for the job.

Unlike its partner movie Flags Of Our Fathers, this focuses a lot more on the lead up to the attack on Iwo Jima, rather than the aftermath and the subsequent propaganda surrounding the battle. As such it is a much more solid movie that feels like it has more direction but still, in my opinion, isn't the masterpiece many judge it to be.

You’ll like this if you liked : Flags Of Our Fathers

The Box (2007) 6/10

Starring : Giancarlo Esposito, Mia Maestro, Gabrielle Union, Yul Vazquez
Director : AJ Kparr
Running Time : 88 mins

The LAPD raid a party in search of millions of dollars in stolen money, only to find all but two people dead. When the homicide department is called in to investigate, they're left trying to piece together what happened based on the remaining two survivors versions of events, one a thief, the other a victim.

This movie tries desperately to be The Usual Suspects (even having Giancarlo Esposito in the cast) but falls short by a country mile. The attempts to create twists and turns are too convoluted, and the quality of the directing made this feel like a TV movie. Fans of silly thrillers might like this, but most people who think past the basics will find this a little far fetched.

You’ll like this if you liked : Swordfish

Yours, Mine & Ours (2005) 6/10

Starring : Dennis Quaid, Rene Russo, Jerry O'Connell, David Koechner
Director : Raja Gosnell
Running Time : 89 mins

Frank Beardsley (Quaid) is a Coast Guard Admiral who has been widowed for a number of years, and Helen North (Russo) is a handbag designer who is also widowed. When they meet up after many years, having been prom king and queen together at high school, they discover that between them they have eighteen children! Then, when Frank asks Helen to marry him, his kids are less than pleased with the news…

The entire concept of this remade comedy surrounds the bickering families fighting amongst themselves and eventually being forced to get along to combat their parent. It's an old plotline that has been used over and over, and remaking this when Cheaper By The Dozen had been remad just two years earlier was a bad mistake. Still, there are some okay slapstick moments that will get a chuckle out of those with juvenile senses of humour.

You’ll like this if you liked : Cheaper By The Dozen

The Uninvited (2009) 7/10

Starring : Emily Browning, Arielle Kebbel, David Straithairn, Elizabeth Banks
Director : The Guard Brothers
Running Time : 88 mins

Anna Rydell (Browning) returns home from being temporarily committed to a mental home to find that her father Steven (Straithairn) has gotten married to her dead mother’s care worker Rachel Summers (Banks), but Anna and her sister Alex (Kebbel) become convinced that Rachel was behind the accident that killed their mother, a fact Anna becomes increasingly convinced by when she is visited by ghosts in her dreams.

This starts out feeling like a horror, but soon turns into a basic thriller. The pace is just right for this sort of film, and the twists that emerge work reasonably well, but I’ve seen this sort of movie made far better before, and it did get a little confusing as to what was imagined and what was true.

You’ll like this if you liked : Shrooms

Classic Friday : Police Academy 5 : Assignment Miami Beach (1988) 6/10

Starring : Bubba Smith, David Graf, Michael Winslow, Leslie Easterbrook, Marion Ramsey, Matt McCoy, GW Bailey, George Gaynes
Director : Alan Myerson
Running Time : 87 mins

Cmdt Lassard (Gaynes) is being honoured at the annual police convention, and he and his band of raw police recruits are journeying over to sunny Miami Beach for the party, but when Lassard gets his bag mixed up with that of a diamond smuggler, and soon Lassard is kidnapped by the smuggler and his hopeless sidekicks, and it's left down to the cops from the Police Academy to come to his rescue.

This is definitely one of the worst of the Police Academy movies, even though it does seem to have one of the most consistent plots. Usually the plot is tagged on to the final twenty minutes and the opening is just gag padding, but at least this one has a plot that pretty much starts from the get go. I think it just suffered from the lack of Steve Guttenberg, but at least it's still watchable, unlike Mission To Moscow.

You’ll like this if you liked : Police Academy 4 : Citizens On Patrol

Flags Of Our Fathers (2006) 7/10

Starring : Ryan Phillippe, Jesse Bradford, Adam Beach, John Benjamin Hickey, John Slattery, Barry Pepper
Director : Clint Eastwood
Running Time : 132 mins

Six soldiers find themselves looked upon as the symbol of American victory in World War II when their picture appears in all the newspapers hoisting a flag at the apparent climax of The Battle Of Iwo Jima, but the truth of the situation haunts the three surviving men who are forced by the American government to tell a slightly inaccurate version of events to inspire the public to buy war bonds.

Despite being overly long and having some not particularly strong performances, this is quite a nice little movie from Clint Eastwood. The point of the movie is driven home over and over again, and it's nice that the soldiers involved in the campaign to encourage the public to buy war bonds seemed to be reluctant, although how close that is to the truth is anyone's guess.

You’ll like this if you liked : Letters From Iwo Jima

Dragon Wars (2007) 6/10

Starring : Jason Behr, Amanda Brooks, Craig Robinson, Elizabeth Pena, Robert Forster
Director : Hyung-rae Shim
Running Time : 89 mins

An ancient prophesy claims that a woman is born every 500 years with the power to turn serpents into dragons, and a young boy learns of this story from an old man in an antique store. Years later, he meets the fabled bearer of the dragon's mark and it becomes his duty to protect her from the evil that surrounds this power, and to stop her from accidentally turning evil serpents into dragons that could terrorise the world!

This is such a kids movie it was hard to take it seriously. The main villain looked like Bill Murray on steroids, and some of the coincidences were a little hard to swallow. Still, if you don't mind substandard special effects, some misplaced humour and an extremely weak plot with characters doing the most unrealistic things then you might find something in this to entertain you.

You’ll like this if you liked : The Forbidden Kingdom