Just Go With It (2011) 7/10

Starring : Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston, Nicole Kidman, Nick Swardson, Brooklyn Decker
Director : Dennis Dugan
Running Time : 112 mins

In order to keep his current girlfriend Palmer (Decker), plastic surgeon Danny Maccabee (Sandler) asks his assistant Katherine Murphy (Aniston) to pretend to be his soon-to-be ex-wife, but when Danny’s girlfriend overhears Katherine getting a phone call from one of her kids, she assumes that the kids are Danny’s and insists on meeting them. One thing leads to another, and they all find themselves on a family holiday in Hawaii where the lies continue to build...

Even though this was a pretty predictable movie, it was still fun to watch. Sandler when he’s not being over the top and stupid is actually okay to watch, and Aniston making things worse for him as he digs deeper into his tissue of lies is entertaining. Worth watching for a romantic night in.

You’ll like this if you liked : I Now Pronounce You Chuck And Larry

The Runaways (2010) 7/10

Starring : Kristen Stewart, Dakota Fanning, Michael Shannon
Director : Floria Sigismondi
Running Time : 107 mins

San Fernando Valley teen Joan Jett (Stewart) decides she wants to form her very own all-girl punk rock band so she takes the idea to a potential manager, Kim Fowley (Shannon), who decides to take on the idea but wants to choose a singer to go with the group. Enter Cherie Currie (Fanning), who Fowley decides to prioritise in the lineup and put centre stage, and that’s when the infighting starts…

This is an interesting movie that perfectly depicts how you’d imagine the formation of Joan Jett and the Runaways to have taken place. The only real problem with this movie is Kristen Stewart who, to be frank, is not a great actress. If the makers of this movie could have got cast members who hadn’t ust finished making a Twilight movie, this might have been even better.

You’ll like this if you liked : Lords Of Dogtown

Street Fighter : The Legend Of Chun-Li (2009) 4/10

Starring : Kristin Kreuk, Neal McDonough, Michael Clarke Duncan
Director : Andrzej Bartkowiak
Running Time : 98 mins

As a child, Chun-Li (Kreuk) witnesses the kidnapping of her father by local crime boss Bison (McDonough). Years later, after her mother has passed away, she makes it her mission to track down Bison and find out what happened to her father, hopefully rescuing him in the process from whatever hell he has been imprisoned in.

This movie was a terrible, stereotypical action movie. Why Hollywood persists in making movies out of computer games that don’t actually have a plot I’ll never know. Kreuk was completely unappealing in the lead role and at no time did I care for her familial losses or for her harrowing situation. Even Michael Clarke Duncan couldn’t rescue this turkey.

You’ll like this if you liked : DOA : Dead Or Alive

Monsters (2010) 6/10

Starring : Scoot McNairy, Whitney Able, Mario Zuniga
Director : Gareth Edwards
Running Time : 94 mins

Years after an alien presence has infected much of Mexican, causing the American government to set up a quarantine of the surrounding area, American photojournalist Andrew Kaulder (McNairy) is asked by tourist Samantha Wynden (Able) to be her escort back to the American border.

I was really looking forward to this movie, that is until I sat down and watched it. Thinking that it looked like an original monster movie that actually focussed on characters rather than bogeymen, and featuring Scoot McNairy who I loved in ‘In Search Of A Midnight Kiss’, I was expecting excellence. Instead I got a mediocre movie that had little or no substance or direction that left me feeling cheated.

You’ll like this if you liked : District 9

Gnomeo And Juliet (2011) 7/10

Starring : James McAvoy, Emily Blunt, Ashley Jensen, Michael Caine
Director : Kelly Ashbury
Running Time : 84 mins

When two next door neighbours declare war on each other, their garden ornaments likewise start something of a feud with each other, resulting in some petty criminal activity involving red and blue paint and a garden well. The series of events that follow cause Gnomeo (McAvoy) and Juliet (Blunt), garden gnomes from apposing gardens, to meet and fall in love…

This is a very cute version of the classic Shakespeare story, which takes a terrible pun and turns it in to a fun kids movie. The voices aren’t exactly imaginative – other than McAvoy, I think the whole cast are just using their own voices – but they manage to make the most English of garden ornaments come to life with some very English accents.

You’ll like this if you liked : Over The Hedge

Morning Glory (2010) 7/10

Starring : Rachel McAdams, Harrison Ford, Diane Keaton
Director : Roger Michell
Running Time : 108 mins

Recently fired TV producer Becky Fuller (McAdams) is desperate to get a new job, so when she is offered the position of producer on the increasingly unpopular day time show, “Daybreak”. When she is then forced to fire one of the hosts, she finds herself desperately trying to secure news reporters Mike Pomeroy (Ford) into the position on the show, a task that is anything but easy when it comes to the egotistical TV veteran…

It’s unusual to see Harrison Ford in a role where he is actually unlikeable, so it was nice to see him trying it out for a change. Ironically this is a likeable light comedy, with Rachel McAdams leading an all-star cast in what many will feel is just another boring rom-com, but others will thoroughly enjoy this thanks to the great acting skills of Keaton and Harrison and the warm presence of McAdams who always makes me smile.

You’ll like this if you liked : Little Black Book

The Dilemma (2011) 8/10

Starring : Vince Vaughn, Kevin James, Jennifer Connelly, Winona Ryder
Director : Ron Howard
Running Time : 112 mins

Ronny Valentine (Vaughn) and Nick Brannen (James) have been best friends since college, so when Roony sees Nick’s wife Geneva (Ryder) out with another man he is faced with the ultimate dilemma – does he tell his friend, thus potentially ruining the marriage, or does he keep quiet and hope Nick doesn’t find out he knew, thus ruining their friendship?

This movie poses a dilemma that no-one would ever want to be faced with – what to do if you find out the wife of your best friend is cheating on him… What results is a haphazard comedy that more often than not delivers laughs while simultaneously showing the hypocrisy that lies within the relationship itself.

You’ll like this if you liked : Just Go With It

The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus (2009) 8/10

Starring : Christopher Plummer, Lily Cole, Andrew Garfield, Heath Ledger, Tom Waits
Director : Terry Gilliam
Running Time : 118 mins

Doctor Parnassus (Plummer) runs a travelling side show with his daughter, Valentina (Cole). What he hasn’t told her is that on Valentina’s 16th birthday, Parnassus has agreed to trade her soul to the devil, aka Mr Nick (Waits), in return for eternal life. In order to prevent this from happening, Parnassus comes up with a new deal – whoever can seduce five souls in his Imaginarium first wins Valentina as their prize.

It isn’t just the visuals that make this an appealing movie, it is also the performances of all the actors involved, especially relative newcomers Andrew Garfield and Lily Cole. Those who might be wary of Gilliam’s style (personally I disliked Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas) can sit back and relax as, in this case, his manic haphazard visuals actually work.

You’ll like this if you liked : Big Fish

Black Swan (2010) 8/10

Starring : Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel
Director : Darren Aronofsky
Running Time : 108 mins

Nina Sayers (Portman) is a professional ballerina who has just been cast in the lead role for a production of Swan Lake, but although she is perfect for The Swan Queen, with this duel role of both The Swan Queen and The Black Swan she finds she may have competition from Lily (Kunis), a ballerina who is the personification of The Black Swan.

Natalie Portman’s almost schizophrenic portrayal of Nina is a joy to behold. Her character develops throughout the film from a weak and feeble sort of person into one who is more than willing to compete for her heart’s desire, while Mila Kunis manages to play the opposition perfectly – without making us dislike her for what she doing to the protagonists career.

You’ll like this if you liked : Perfume : The Story Of A Murderer

Up In The Air (2009) 8/10

Starring : George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick
Director : Jason Reitman
Running Time : 110 mins

Ryan Bingham (Clooney) works as a corporate down-sizer, travelling across America and helping to streamline businesses so they work more efficiently and can ultimately save money, but when young up-and-comer Natalie Keener (Kendrick) comes up with the innovative idea of introducing video conferencing to his company in order to minimise air travel, Bingham realises that his life so far, including his relationship with fellow frequent flyer Alex Goran (Farmiga), may be on the line.

I really enjoyed this movie, and love the idea of a corporate down-sizer being concerned about his own job being down-sized. Clooney is excellent as the smarmy salesman and Kendrick has the role of the young wannabe down to a tee. Well worth checking out, even though it tends to drag towards the end.

You’ll like this if you liked : Lost In Translation

The Green Hornet (2011) 7/10

Starring : Seth Rogen, Jay Chou, Cameron Diaz, Tom Wilkinson, Christoph Waltz
Director : Michel Gondry
Running Time : 115 mins

Millionaire playboy and publisher of the Los Angeles newspaper “The Daily Sentinel” Britt Reid (Rogen) finds his life completely changed when he and his kung-fu fighting chauffeur Kato (Chou) stop a robbery. Together they decide to take on a new life as crime fighters, with Reid adopting the nom de plume The Green Hornet.

This tongue in cheek spoof is actually really enjoyable. Rogan’s slightly pathetic playboy wannabe hero is fun to watch, and Chou’s plays the true brains AND brawn of the operation with laid back appeal. Fans of movies like Kick-Ass and Super will really enjoy this more child-friendly addition to the super hero movie.

You’ll like this if you liked : Super

Tangled (2010) 8/10

Starring : Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi, Donna Murphy, Ron Perlman
Director : Nathan Greno & Byron Howard
Running Time : 93 mins

In Disney's 50th Animated Classic, the evil Mother Gothel (Murphy) kidnaps young Princess Rapunzel (Moore) as a baby. Years later she is living in a tower from which she is never allowed to leave, little knowing that her hair is imbued with magical healing powers. When a charming bandit named Flynn Rider (Levi) scales the tower and enters her room, Rapunzel convinces him to be her guide to the outside world and together they make their escape…

Even though Disney have reverted back to computer animation for their fiftieth classic, this time the story is a vast improvement on recent installments such as The Wild and Chicken Little. Seemingly taking al eaf from Dreamworks, Disney have created a fun adventure for all the family that features memorable characters that you will actually be interested in.

You’ll like this if you liked : Shrek

The Boat That Rocked (2009) 5/10

Starring : Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Nick Frost
Director : Richard Curtis
Running Time : 129 mins

In this true story, a group of DJs in 1960s Britain set up a pirate radio station in the middle of the North Sea, much to the anger of authorities. Their aim – to play real music that the youth of Britain want to hear, as an alternative to the government enforced classical music that was all that they allowed to play on the radio.

I didn’t enjoy this movie at all. Normally Richard Curtis movies have some fun character interplay and some witty banter to make you chuckle at least once, but this pretty much had nothing. Fans of Richard Curtis might want to avoid this as it sullies his otherwise good name.

You’ll like this if you liked : High Fidelity

The King’s Speech (2010) 8/10

Starring : Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter
Director : Tom Hooper
Running Time : 119 mins

When the King abdicates, his brother George (Firth) assumes the thrown to become King George VI. Plagued by an uncontrollable stammer and considered to be unfit to rule, George is forced to employ the aid of Lionel Logue Rush), an unorthodox speech therapist who tries to help him with his crippling affliction.

For a movie with such a basic plot, this was a really surprising hit. Firth and Rush are wonderful in the lead roles, and actually make you care about what will happen to a member of the Royal family. For fans of simple period dramas this is a definite must.

You’ll like this if you liked : The Queen

Paper Man (2009) 6/10

Starring : Jeff Daniels, Emma Stone, Lisa Kudrow, Ryan Reynolds
Director : Kieran & Michele Mulroney
Running Time : 107 mins

Richard Dunn (Daniels) – a 40-something man with an imaginary friend called Captain Excellent (Reynolds) - decides, with the encouragement of his wife Claire (Kudrow), to spend some time in seclusion in order to help start his second novel. However, feeling uninspired, he travels into town and meets high school student Abby (Stone), forming an unlikely friendship that helps him finally grow up a little…

Daniels and Stone make a fine pair in this comedy drama. Their interplay on the screen was a real treat, and with Ryan Reynolds thrown in for good measure this underrated movie could have been a real winner. Sadly there isn’t really enough substance to this movie to make it really great.

You’ll like this if you liked : Lars And The Real Girl

127 Hours (2010) 7/10

Starring : James Franco, Amber Tamblyn, Kate Mara
Director : Danny Boyle
Running Time : 93 mins

Whilst on a trip to Moab in Utah, Aron Ralston (Franco) decides to enjoy himself by exploring the wilderness and checking out the canyons and caves in the area, but when he falls into a crevice his arm is trapped under a rock and he spends the next five days trying to survive while figuring out a way to escape from the hole he’s found himself in.

James Franco really makes this movie, which is basically over an hour of a man trying to cut off his own hand. Danny Boyle manages to keep this movie interesting from start to finish, without there being anything close to a lull, but even so it does get to a point when the 127 hours seems more like 200.

You’ll like this if you liked : Into The Wild