Mini Reviews
Mini Review - Daddy's Home
Daddy's Home (out Dec 26) is a lowbrow comedy about two competitive guys (Will Ferrell & Mark Wahlberg) trying to win the affections of two kids and their single mother. There are a few laughs early on but the film makes plenty of tonal missteps (such as a moment where one is electrocuted) on the way to the finish line. Grade: C+.
Mini Review - The Good Dinosaur
The Good Dinosaur (out Dec 26) follows in the same vein as the Shaun The Sheep Movie and is a creative animated feature that relies more on visuals and facial expressions than dialogue. It's the cute tale of a young dinosaur who teams up with a small kid to find his way back home to his family. Grade: B+.
Mini Review - Youth
Youth (out Dec 26) stars Michael Caine and Harvey Keitel as two friends holidaying in the Swiss Alps who reflect on their past and deal with issues that will shape their future. It's clear that Italian director Paolo Sorrentino (The Great Beauty) is trying to say something deep and profound. I struggled to grasp it through. Grade: C+.
Mini Review - Alvin & The Chipmunks: The Road Chip
Alvin & The Chipmunks: The Road Chip (out Dec 26) is the 4th instalment in the franchise. Very young audiences will lap it up but for everyone else, there are other family films that offer much more in terms of story and laughs. This time around, they three Chipmunks travel to Miami to prevent their beloved Dave from proposing to his girlfriend. Grade: C.
Mini Review - Suffragette
Suffragette (out Dec 26) is set in London, 1912 and looks at the tactics adopted by a group of British women in pressuring the Government for the right to vote. It's an important piece of history and the film does a solid job illustrating both the pain (both physical and emotional) that they endured. Grade: B+.
Mini Review - Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Star Wars: The Force Awakens (out Dec17) is entertaining. The safe screenplay shares a few too many similarities with the earlier movies (we have another bad guy in a black suit and mask) but the injection of new characters (particularly star Daisy Ridley) will keep you interested all the way through. Grade: B+.
Mini Review - The Night Before
The Night Before (out Dec 3) is a comedy about three middle aged guys who get together on Christmas Eve and go in pursuit of an amazing party. It takes a while to warm up but as the situations become more and more outlandish (such as a moment in a church), the laughs start to flow. Grade: B.
Mini Review - Truth
Truth (out Dec 3) has been criticised for its factual inaccuracies (ironic given the title) but it's still a thought provoking drama about loyalty, office politics and the role of the media. It based on a 60 Minutes story that aired in the United States in 2004 which questioned President George Bush's military history. Grade: B+.
Mini Review - In The Heart Of The Sea
In The Heart Of The Sea (out Dec 3) recounts the true story that helped inspire American author Herman Melville to write Moby Dick. There’s an odd pacing to the film that’s difficult to shrug off and the action sequences feel over edited with confusing camera angles. It wants to be a gripping adventure but it just couldn’t pull me in. Grade: C+.
Mini Review - Love The Coopers
Love The Coopers (out Nov 26) is a disappointing, unnecessarily complex Christmas drama-comedy structured around an extended family that is difficult to like. They talk a lot but rarely say anything of significance. The odd visual triggers to the past are of little value. Grade: C.
Mini Review - Creed
Creed (out Nov 26) is an enjoyable boxing drama that sees Sylvester Stallone reprise his iconic role of Rocky Balboa. This time around, he's serving as the coach and mentor of a young boxer (Michael B. Jordan) trying to find his place in the sport. Both leading performances are great and it culminates with a worthy bout. Grade: B+.