Classic Friday : The Errand Boy (1961) 7/10

Starring : Jerry Lewis, Brian Donlevy
Director : Jerry Lewis
Running Time : 89 mins

The head of Paramutual Studios desperately wants to know where all of his hard earned money is disappearing to, so he hires Morty S Tashman (Lewis) to pose as an errand boy while secretly looking around for suspicious behaviour. Unfortunately all he manages to do is cause mayhem himself.

This movie is typical of Lewis’s early solo movies, with some great slapstick moments in this series of comedy sketches. Thosewho like their movies to have a noticeable plot might not enjoy this, but fans of classic comedies of errors will enjoy every minute of this classic romp.

You’ll like this if you liked : The Bellboy

The Rocker (2008) 7/10

Starring : Rainn Wilson, Christina Applegate, Teddy Geiger, Josh Gad, Emma Stone
Director : Peter Cattaneo
Running Time : 96 mins

Robert Fishman (Wilson) used to be the drummer in a band called Vesuvius, but twenty years ago they kicked him out, and subsequently became one of the biggest rock bands around. Years later, and Robert finds a second chance to make it big in the rock world, this time by joining his nephew Matt (Gad) as the drummer in his band A.D.D. and making it his goal to get them any gig he can.

This started off slow, but it soon picked up the pace once Wilson joined up with his teenaged band. The jokes were obvious and sometimes ill conceived, but this wasn't the sort of over the top nonsense some comedies of this ilk can be, and at times it was quite well observed and witty.

You’ll like this if you liked : Drillbit Taylor

Saw VI (2009) 7/10

Starring : Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor, Mark Rolston, Betsy Russell, Shawnee Smith, Peter Outerbridge
Director : Kevin Greutert
Running Time : 92 mins

Doctor William Easton (Outerbridge) runs a dodgy medical insurance clinic, where there's an entire setup dedicated to seeing if people are likely to get ill and then only offering the very well insurance, finds himself the target of Jigsaw, this time in the guise of detective Mark Hoffman (Mandylor), who is trying to fulfill the last wishes of the original Jigsaw (Bell).

The Saw movies have been pretty consistent, with the first clearly being the best and the rest coming in a close second. This installment not only answers a few more questions, such as why Jigsaw started killing in the first place and why Amanda suddenly became so bad at her job, and the violence is still at just the right level to be bearable without becoming so gross that it detracts from the storyline. Fans of the series will like this, although purists might think that the series is carrying on too far.

You’ll like this if you liked : Saw III

Turn The River (2007) 5/10

Starring : Famke Janssen, Jaymie Dornan, Rip Torn, Matt Ross
Director : Chris Eigeman
Running Time : 93 mins

Kailey Sullivan (Janssen), who makes ends meet by hustling people at pool, decides to make one final big score with the help of her long time associate Teddy Quinette (Torn), so that she can kidnap her son Gulley (Dornan) from his father and step-mother and escape across the border with him to Canada.

This movie had an interesting concept in it's storyline, but it was really pretty boring. The pacing is incredibly slow, and Janssen's character has little or no charisma. Normally I wouldn't have bothered with this movie after the first five minutes because it just didn't engage me, but there might be something here for someone who likes to watch movies about gamblers making it good in order to get their family back, otherwise skip it.

You’ll like this if you liked : Poolhall Junkies

Stick It (2006) 7/10

Starring : Jeff Bridges, Missy Peregrym, Vanessa Lengies
Director : Jessica Bendinger
Running Time : 103 mins

Following a brush with the law, ex-gymnast Haley Graham (Peregrym) is forced by her parents to go back to a gymnastics school that she quit from years earlier, where she is expected to conform to everyone else’s behavioral standards, but a she rebels against those in authority she starts to bond with her team mates and creates a real feeling of team spirit.

This was quite a likable movie, and I like that instead of getting the rebel to conform to everyone else, she manages to turn everyone to her way of thinking whilst actually creating a sense of team spirit. Peregrym is believable as a gymnast (I'm guessing she may have been one at some time) and the rest of the stereotyped cast all worked well in their roles.

You’ll like this if you liked : Bring It On

He's Just Not That Into You (2009) 7/10

Starring : Ginnifer Goodwin, Scarlett Johansson, Bradley Cooper, Justin Long, Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Connelly, Drew Barrymore
Director : Ken Kwapis
Running Time : 130 mins

A series of oddly related Baltimore ladies desperately try to figure out how the mind of the average man works. Primarily there's Gigi Haim (Goodwin), who just can't tell that the men she dates are terrible people. There's Anna (Johansson) who finds herself having an elicit affair with a married man. There's Beth (Aniston), whose boyfriend doesn't want to commit to marriage. And there;s Mary (Barrymore), who spends her free time looking for the perfect man on My Space.

This was better than I thought, but still incredibly long. With a run time of over two hours, this really could have done with a major edit, but thanks to the four or five stories going on it went a lot faster than I imagined. Fans of chick flicks and rom coms will enjoy this, but there isn't much for anyone else, and I hated that Ben Affleck came out looking like a good guy!

You’ll like this if you liked : Love Actually

Classic Friday : Child's Play 3 (1991) 7/10

Starring : Justin Whalin, Perrey Reeves, Brad Dourif
Director : Jack Bender
Running Time : 85 mins

Andy Barclay (Whalin), now 16 and attending a military school, is appalled to learn that the line of Good Guy dolls are being relaunched, even after the negative publicity of the Chucky (Dourif) killings. Unfortunately, the original Chucky doll is mixed in with plastic and the evil doll is reborn, once again looking for a new body to inhabit.

This is the infamous video nasty that was banned for a number of years in the mid nineties. Finally re-released a few years back (albeit with a new 18 certificate), this is one of the weaker installments in the series. Chucky is still an interesting characters, but now that they've got rid of the young Andy, replacing him with a teenage Justin Whalin, the charm just seems to have been lost.

You’ll like this if you liked : Child's Play 2

The Last Sin Eater (2007) 6/10

Starring : Louise Fletcher, Henry Thomas, Liana Liberato, Peter Wingfield
Director : Michael Landon Jr
Running Time : 118 mins

Feeling responsible for the death of her little sister, ten year old Cadi Forbes (Liberato) seeks out the mythical Sin Eater (Wingfield), begging him to rid her of her sin before she dies. In her travels she meets a religious man (Thomas) who tells her that The Sin Eater is an unnecessary entity as Jesus forgave us our sins almost 2,000 years ago. Relaying this to The Sin Eater, Cadi unravels a series of events and secrets that could tear her community apart.

This is very well paced, but just a little too boring. Coupled with the fact that most of the actors involved seem to think that Wales is somewhere in Southern Ireland, there is just too much to distract from the flimsy plot that, although reasonably well observed, is just too inexpertly delivered.

You’ll like this if you liked : Beowulf And Grendel

Daylight Robbery (2008) 7/10

Starring : Geoff Bell, Vas Blackwood, Robert Boulter
Director : Paris Leonti
Running Time : 96 mins

A gang of bank robbers use the World Cup as a cover so that they can break into the vaults at The London Exchange Bank. Unfortunately things don’t go according to plan when one of the thieves is badly injured, and the gang are faced with a bank full of hostages and the police waiting for them to come out.

This wasn't that bad a movie, but it did start getting a little convoluted as the story progressed. It didn't really make sense how the thieves could be so stupid as to think they wouldn't have to take people hostage, but if you can look past that then you might enjoy this predictable little crime romp.

You’ll like this if you liked : Bandits

The Proposal (2009) 9/10

Starring : Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, Mary Steenburgen, Craig T Nelson, Betty White
Director : Anne Fletcher
Running Time : 108 mins

Much hated boss Margaret Tate (Bullock) is told she is going to be deported from the United States, so in a desperate bid to stay in the country she forces her assistant Andrew Paxton (Reynolds) to marry her, but as part of the deal Andrew forces her to come and visit his family in Alaska so that she can learn about him and pass the immigration test.

I actually really enjoyed this movie. Reynolds and Bullock are usually pretty good, but together they’re even better. There’s plenty of chemistry and old fashioned laughs revolving around their fake relationship, and even though the plot is obvious and the conclusion is clear from the get go, this is still well worth a watch.

You’ll like this if you liked : Sweet Home Alabama

Paradise Lost (2006) 7/10

Starring : Josh Duhamel, Melissa George, Olivia Wilde, Desmond Askew
Director : John Stockwell
Running Time : 96 mins

When their bus crashes in a remote Brazilian area, a group of young backpackers think it’s the opportunity of a lifetime, hanging around with real locals and experiencing a truly unique vacation, but they soon find their lives in danger when they are targeted by a group of black market organ thieves.

This was a well paced thriller, though I thought it was going to be more of a horror. The fact that the villains are built up to be humanitarians in one respect and murderers in another make them an interesting combination to contend with. The ending was a little weak, but the characterization overall made up for the lack of an impact the ending had on the audience.

You’ll like this if you liked : Hostel Part II

The Wackness (2008) 9/10

Starring : Ben Kingsley, Josh Peck, Famke Janssen, Olivia Thirlby
Director : Jonathan Levine
Running Time : 108 mins

It's 1994, and Luke Shapiro (Peck) has decided to spend his last summer before college selling drugs to try and help out his parents who are gradually losing their home. He slowly develops a friendship with one of his regulars, Dr Jeffrey Squires (Kingsley), who in return gives him free therapy, but when Luke develops a close friendship with Squires step-daughter Stephanie (Thirlby), the doctor tries to warn him off her.

I really enjoyed this movie - none of the characters were stereotyped, and the drug dealing lead played admirably by Peck was incredibly likeable. The plot was well formed and made for intriguing viewing, and Kingsley is very good as the pothead psychiatrist. This film comes highly recommended.

You’ll like this if you liked : Mysterious Skin

Classic Friday : Carry On Loving (1970) 6/10

Starring : Sid James, Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey, Joan Sims, Hattie Jacques, Terry Scott
Director : Gerald Thomas
Running Time : 87 mins

Sidney Bliss (James) runs a computer dating agency, despite the fact he has enough problems with his own love life, namely his business partner Sophie (Jacques) who he's been promising to marry for years, but when she comes to the conclusion that Sidney will never settle down she decides to sabotage his business by setting up a load of unlikely couples.

This isn't one of the best of the Carry On series - in fact, once the 60s were over they started to go downhill - but there are still a fair few laughs, though the double entendres were far more obvious than in previous films. Fans of the genre will enjoy this, but I wouldn't recommend it as an example of the series.

You’ll like this if you liked : A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum

I've Loved You So Long (2008) 6/10

Starring : Kristin Scott Thomas, Elsa Zylberstein
Director : Philippe Claudel
Running Time : 113 mins

Following a fifteen year stint in prison for assisting in the death of her son, Juliette Fontaine (Scott Thomas) is reunited with her younger sister Lea (Zylberstein), who is surprisingly civil to her and welcomes her into her family home. Her actions towards her older sister, including the reintroduction of her to her mother, allows Juliette to open up about her sons death, and explain why she felt so compelled to do what she did.

This was a slow paced movie, but its heartbreaking tale of a mother trying to end her son’s torment, and the sister that stood by her, is a lovely tale to tell. Sadly I got a little lost along the way, and as a result I didn’t enjoy this as much as perhaps I should have. Fans of melodrama will love this, but the French subtitles might detract from the story.

You’ll like this if you liked : Snow Cake

Pieces Of April (2003) 7/10

Starring : Katie Holmes, Patricia Clarkson, Derek Luke, Sean Hayes, Oliver Platt
Director : Peter Hedges
Running Time : 80 mins

Desperately trying to impress her family and prove their perceptions of her to be wrong, April Burns (Holmes) tries to prepare Thanksgiving dinner for the clan, but is faced with problems when the oven won't light. Meanwhile, as her family travel to the meal, they reveal that they are dreading trying to keep a smile on their face while they attempt to eat her cooking.

This is actually quite an interesting movie. There's practically no plot, but the performances more than make up for this. Katie Holmes is pretty good in this for a change - normally her performances are more subdues and don't really stand out - and Clarkson and Platt are wonderful as her parents. Well worth watching, but maybe not more than once.

You’ll like this if you liked : The Family Stone

Ghost In The Shell : Solid State Society (2006) 6/10

Starring : Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, Richard Epcar, Crispin Freeman
Director : Kenji Kamiyama
Running Time : 113 mins

Section 9 is forced to investigate a series of suicides that are blamed on a mysterious individual known only as The Pupeteer who it is believed is forcing people to kill themselves. Suspicion falls on Major Motoko Kusanagi (McGlynn), but when Section 9 realise that the suicides are connected to the kidnapping of as many as 20,000 children they discover a far more sinister plot.

This really wasn't as good as the original movie, and not quite as interesting as the sequel, Innocence. The animation hasn't really changed since the second installment, but the story line felt too confusing, and the reintroduction of the Major was just too convenient. Hardcore fans should just stick with the original and pretend this didn't happen unless they really want to know what happened next.

You’ll like this if you liked : Ghost In The Shell 2 : Innocence

Chop Shop (2007) 8/10

Starring : Alejandro Polanco, Isamar Gonzales
Director : Ramin Bahrani
Running Time : 85 mins

Alejandro (Polanco) is a street orphan who lives above a chop shop with his sister Isamar (Gonzales). Together they desperately try to make a better life for themselves, making money by stealing car parts for the people downstairs but, eventually, Isamar find herself turning to making money through prostitution.

This is a likable enough movie, with the two leads struggling to make ends meet in a juvenile and engrossing way. The harsh subject matter is treated with admirable frivolity, which makes this palatable despite its strong subject matter. Fans of gritty realism will definitely enjoy this hidden gem, filled with realistic moments.

You’ll like this if you liked : The Kite Runner

The Princess And The Frog (2009) 7/10

Starring : Anika Noni Rose, Bruno Campos, Keith David
Director : Ron Clements & John Musker
Running Time : 91 mins

In Disney's 49th Animated Classic, when Prince Naveen (Campos) is turned into a frog by an evil voodoo priest named Dr Facilier (David), he thinks he’s found a princess to kiss him and turn him back in the form of Tiana (Rose). Unfortunately she’s not a princess, and the kiss results in her transforming into a frog as well.

Disney have reverted back to standard animation, the first Disney Classic to do so since Home On The Range in 2004. This is an interesting move, but when you watch this cartoon you'll realise it was the right one. The story is old fashioned, with caricatures that you'd expect to see maybe sixty years ago, and the animation helps reflect this, but the characters are likable and the plot is simple to follow and pretty much standard old school Disney fare.

You’ll like this if you liked : The Hunchback Of Notre Dame

Classic Friday : Goodbye Pork Pie (1981) 7/10

Starring : Tony Barry, Kelly Johnson, Claire Oberman
Director : Geoff Murphy
Running Time : 98 mins

Small time crook Gerry Austin (Johnson) uses some stolen credentials to hire a little yellow mini cooper. On his travels his meets John (Barry), who is trying to get home to talk with his estranged wife, and he joins Gerry on his escapades across the country with the police in hot pursuit.

This is a fun-filled comedy that owes a lot to the bawdy sex comedies of the 1970s. The plot is thin, but the action and mirth make up for that, and you'll be hard pushed to find someone who doesn't sympathise with the heroes of the piece as they race across the country with the police on their tale.

You’ll like this if you liked : Convoy

Frontier(s) (2007) 6/10

Starring : Karina Testa, Samuel Le Bihan, Estelle Lefebure, Aurelien Wiik
Director : Xavier Gens
Running Time : 104 mins

A gang of Parisian thieves, wanted by the police following their involvement in a politic riot following a Presidential election, flee the city in search of refuge and find themselves in the countryside being offered free room and board by some suspciously friendly locals, but it isn't long before they realise that the locals are cannibals!

This started off pretty slowly, but as far as overly violent movies about cannibalistic Nazis go this wasn't that bad. Once you get passed the start with the politic riot and the young criminals and get to the meat of the movie this is quite entertaining. Be warned, there are some pretty violent moments, and if you don't like blood then steer clear of this one.

You’ll like this if you liked : The Devil's Rejects

Coach Carter (2005) 8/10

Starring : Samuel L Jackson, Rob Brown, Robert Ri'chard, Rick Gonzalez
Director : Thomas Carter
Running Time : 132 mins

Sporting goods store owner turned basketball coach Ken Carter (Jackson) creates controversy when he takes over as coach of the Richmond Oilers, a high school basketball team, and decides to bench the entire team when he discovers that they all have a less than 2.0 grade average, and the community declare that winning a basketball tournament is more important than teaching youngsters a moral lesson.

In spite of an extraordinarily long tun time, this was an entertaining enough movie that will have you shouting your support for Coach Carter and your frustration at everyone else. It's ridiculous that Americans prize winning sports competitions above educating their youngsters, but it's sadly true and this true story is a clear reflection of how backwards Americans can really be.

You’ll like this if you liked : The Great Debaters

Alvin And The Chipmunks The Squeakquel (2009) 7/10

Starring : Zachary Levi, David Cross, Jason Lee, Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler, Jesse McCartney, Amy Poehler, Anna Faris, Christina Applegate
Director : Betty Thomas
Running Time : 85 mins

When Dave Seville (Lee) ends up in hospital, he is forced to leave his Auntie to look after his Chipmunks, Alvin (Long), Simon (Gubler) and Theodore (McCartney), but when his Auntie in turn ends up in hospital Dave's nephew Toby (Levi) is forced to look after the pop sensations. The Chipmunks are forced to go back to school to get an education, but find themselves faced with bullies and some new rivals - The Chipettes!

This wasn't as much fun as the first movie, but fans of the Chipmunks cutesy antics will definitely enjoy this installment. Cameron Richardson was suspiciously absent from the movie, and Jason Lee felt liked he'd been forced into the background for some reason, but Levi and Cross take the helm admirably, though Cross's creepiness was a little too over the top for my liking.

You’ll like this if you liked : The Adventures Of Rocky And Bullwinkle

The Wicker Man (2006) 5/10

Starring : Nicolas Cage, Ellen Burstyn, Kate Beahan, Frances Conroy
Director : Neil LaBute
Running Time : 102 mins

Police officer Edward Malus (Cage) is contacted by his ex-girlfriend Willow (Beahan) who has been living on the remote island of Summerisle. She informs him that her daughter has gone missing, so he travels to the island to help in her search for the young girl, only to be faced with a less than helpful community of strange pagan locals who are more worried about their honey harvest than in searching for missing children.

Oh dear - what were the makers of this movie thinking? If they hadn't have called this The Wicker Man, people may not have commented as much on how bad this was, but the fact that a cult movie about virgin sacrifice has been replaced with the sacrifice of a man who is allergic to bees being sacrificed for a honey harvest makes this one of Nicolas Cage's most laughable roles to date. I really don't think he was even that bothered because he mad very little effort, and the creepiness from the original is completely lost in this remake.

You’ll like this if you liked : The Reaping

Sex And The City (2008) 8/10

Starring : Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon, Chris Noth
Director : Michael Patrick King
Running Time : 145 mins

Carrie Bradshaw (Parker) is finally going to get married to Big (Noth), but when Big pulls out of the wedding at the last minute, her best friends Samantha (Cattrall), Charlotte (Davis) and Miranda (Nixon) jump to Carrie's aid and take her on her honeymoon in an attempt to cheer her up. Meanwhile Miranda is having marital problems, Samantha is drifting apart from her man, and Charlotte thinks she might actually be pregnant!

This actually wasn't that bad, even though it really felt like three episodes of the television show neatly edited together. The characters are just as interesting, though Carrie's obsession with shoes went too far for my liking and I actually sympathised with Big more than her. There were some nice little comedy set pieces, and I suspect that long time fans of the show wouldn't have been disappointed by this latest installment.

You’ll like this if you liked : The Sweetest Thing