Trouble Is My Business: Movie Review
Rating: 6/10
Cast: Gary Peach, Various students of Auckland's Aorere
College
Director: Juliette Veber
A documentary set in south Auckland, Trouble is my Business is the story of
one teacher determined to make a difference in students' lives.
When we first see Assistant Principal Gary Peach, he's got a megaphone and is
prowling through the school's play ground rushing kids to class - and making
sure they don't bunk off.
The film concentrates on some of his students - who all present him with
various problems, heartaches and ultimately happinesses.
Alicia is being bullied and starts wagging school; Mosese is finding himself
mixed up with drugs and on the verge of gangs; Jesse has learning difficulties
and is struggling and Jade is about to miss the most important exams of her
life&
Veber's first time doco is not a new story when it comes to truancy and
trouble in South Auckland - sadly, the story is all too common and the issues
all too familiar for anyone who sees the news or lives in the area.
But by singling out a teacher, who's not always loved by fellow teachers and
whose methods aren't always appreciated by those who he's targeting, she manages
to evoke a sense of worth from all those involved.
Trouble is my Business is not an easy watch in places - but because its
central participant (Peach) is so engaging and so dogged in pursuing what he
feels is right for the kids, you can't help but feel pulled into the story.
Clearly Veber has had unfettered access to the students, their teacher and
their families - they're at ease with the cameras around them.
The fact this was filmed back in 2004 simply goes to demonstrate how
universal are the problems tackled within.
The kids in this doco aren't facing problems unique to south Auckland - any
parent of a kid in a low socio economic background will recognize the various
issues raised here.
Some may feel inspired by Peach and his persistent ways; some may feel
disappointed to see south Auckland in the spotlight.
However, the portrait which emerges of the south Auckland community is one of
the individual making a difference.
Ultimately uplifting and inspiring, Trouble Is My Business is a confident
start for a film maker.
Friday, 29 May 2009
The Escapist: Movie Review
The Escapist: Movie Review
The Escapist
Rating 7/10
Cast: Brian Cox, Liam Cunnigham, Dominic Cooper, Damian Lewis, Joseph Fiennes, Steven Macintosh
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Films about prison breaks are always likely to be compared to that TV show with the guy who has the tattoos and tries a prison break (its name escapes me).
The Escapist is one of the latest entrants to the genre - and is one of those films which will have you debating its merits and ending long after the credits have rolled.
Brian Cox is Frank, a lifer, who, on hearing his only daughter is ill after a drugs overdose, decides now is the time to get out.
But he can't do it on his own - so he pulls together a gang of associates (a small trusted group) to help him pull off his own prison break.
And just when it looks like it's about to come together, the plan could unravel any moment thanks to the arrival of Frank's new cellmate (Dominic Cooper) who inadvertently picks up the attention of one of the meanest inmates.
The Escapist is a pretty gripping piece of cinema - Cox is compelling as Frank,a weary man who's determined to serve out his sentence but whose desire to leave is all too real once he realizes the danger his daughter is in.
Scenes involving his character towards the end are just heartbreaking and gut wrenching and Cox conveys more of that because of the lines on his face than any piece of dialogue could ever manage.
There are some great character turns in this film - Damian Lewis is brilliant as Rizza - rumour has it he wore women's underwear to perfect the walk Rizza has; Steven Macintosh is just creepy as Tony who menaces Dominic Cooper's James Lacey.
Wyatt does a sterling job - you see (spoiler) the break out intercut with scenes from the prison and it takes a little time to piece together the chronology of events.
The soundtrack is a little much at times - the music is perfect, but somehow in the final mix, someone cranked it up to 11 and it's a little piercing during certain key scenes - even if it does get the adrenaline pumping.
The Escapist ultimately may be viewed by some as just another prison drama - but it's a slightly superior intelligent drama in which you'll find yourself completely engrossed by the end.
The Escapist
Rating 7/10
Cast: Brian Cox, Liam Cunnigham, Dominic Cooper, Damian Lewis, Joseph Fiennes, Steven Macintosh
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Films about prison breaks are always likely to be compared to that TV show with the guy who has the tattoos and tries a prison break (its name escapes me).
The Escapist is one of the latest entrants to the genre - and is one of those films which will have you debating its merits and ending long after the credits have rolled.
Brian Cox is Frank, a lifer, who, on hearing his only daughter is ill after a drugs overdose, decides now is the time to get out.
But he can't do it on his own - so he pulls together a gang of associates (a small trusted group) to help him pull off his own prison break.
And just when it looks like it's about to come together, the plan could unravel any moment thanks to the arrival of Frank's new cellmate (Dominic Cooper) who inadvertently picks up the attention of one of the meanest inmates.
The Escapist is a pretty gripping piece of cinema - Cox is compelling as Frank,a weary man who's determined to serve out his sentence but whose desire to leave is all too real once he realizes the danger his daughter is in.
Scenes involving his character towards the end are just heartbreaking and gut wrenching and Cox conveys more of that because of the lines on his face than any piece of dialogue could ever manage.
There are some great character turns in this film - Damian Lewis is brilliant as Rizza - rumour has it he wore women's underwear to perfect the walk Rizza has; Steven Macintosh is just creepy as Tony who menaces Dominic Cooper's James Lacey.
Wyatt does a sterling job - you see (spoiler) the break out intercut with scenes from the prison and it takes a little time to piece together the chronology of events.
The soundtrack is a little much at times - the music is perfect, but somehow in the final mix, someone cranked it up to 11 and it's a little piercing during certain key scenes - even if it does get the adrenaline pumping.
The Escapist ultimately may be viewed by some as just another prison drama - but it's a slightly superior intelligent drama in which you'll find yourself completely engrossed by the end.
Last Chance Harvey: Movie Review
Last Chance Harvey: Movie Review
Rating 6/10
Cast: Dustin Hoffman, Emma Thompson, Richard Schiff
Director: Joel Hopkins
Stop me if you have heard this one before....
Lonely divorcee has chance meeting with permanent singleton.
Against the odds, the pair form a friendship and it evolves to a relationship - but the pair are from other sides of the world - how can their budding romance survive such insurmountable obstacles?
Granted, it's not the most original idea ever, but Last Chance Harvey just about manages to pull it off - even if it does dip into heavy schmaltz.
Dustin Hoffman is Harvey Shine, a NY based jingle writer, who is on his last chance with his employers.
With a big deal about to break, Shine has to head to England to see his estranged daughter marry.
Emma Thompson is Kate Walker, a customer services rep for an airline.
Forever on blind dates and apparently consigned to spinsterhood, she's beset by a meddling mum whose husband ran off to France with a younger woman.
Shine and Walker meet as he disembarks the plane - and he refuses to answer her questions.
Later, after being leaving his daughter's wedding early (that's how close ole Harvey is to the family), he bumps into Kate again.
And in a moment of self loathing and realizing he's lost everything, he starts to talk to her&.and the two of them realize last chances should be seized - before it's too late.
What is there to say about Last Chance Harvey?
If you're prone to sentimental films and well up with emotion as the human condition is examined, then this flick is for you.
But it's a couple of very good turns by Hoffman and Thompson which raise this out of the mire of treacly schmaltz.
Hoffman's good as the world weary Shine - despondent after being rejected by a personal and professional world, he conveys just the right amount of sass and sadness to make his character likeable.
And Thompson puts in an admirable performance as the spinster who's always on blind dates or being set up by her mother - her breakdown towards the end of the film is deeply plausible as she faces the very real possibility of being alone for the rest of her life.
The only cloying part of this film is a sub plot involving Kate's mother and her new Polish neighbour - which exploits every possible racial stereotype concerning foreigners and has an extremely predictable outcome.
Last Chance Harvey won't win any awards for originality and it won't surprise you for the moves it puts on your heartstrings - but it's a solid story with some solid performances from its leads which will give anyone who's still single and despairing a ray of cinematic hope.
Rating 6/10
Cast: Dustin Hoffman, Emma Thompson, Richard Schiff
Director: Joel Hopkins
Stop me if you have heard this one before....
Lonely divorcee has chance meeting with permanent singleton.
Against the odds, the pair form a friendship and it evolves to a relationship - but the pair are from other sides of the world - how can their budding romance survive such insurmountable obstacles?
Granted, it's not the most original idea ever, but Last Chance Harvey just about manages to pull it off - even if it does dip into heavy schmaltz.
Dustin Hoffman is Harvey Shine, a NY based jingle writer, who is on his last chance with his employers.
With a big deal about to break, Shine has to head to England to see his estranged daughter marry.
Emma Thompson is Kate Walker, a customer services rep for an airline.
Forever on blind dates and apparently consigned to spinsterhood, she's beset by a meddling mum whose husband ran off to France with a younger woman.
Shine and Walker meet as he disembarks the plane - and he refuses to answer her questions.
Later, after being leaving his daughter's wedding early (that's how close ole Harvey is to the family), he bumps into Kate again.
And in a moment of self loathing and realizing he's lost everything, he starts to talk to her&.and the two of them realize last chances should be seized - before it's too late.
What is there to say about Last Chance Harvey?
If you're prone to sentimental films and well up with emotion as the human condition is examined, then this flick is for you.
But it's a couple of very good turns by Hoffman and Thompson which raise this out of the mire of treacly schmaltz.
Hoffman's good as the world weary Shine - despondent after being rejected by a personal and professional world, he conveys just the right amount of sass and sadness to make his character likeable.
And Thompson puts in an admirable performance as the spinster who's always on blind dates or being set up by her mother - her breakdown towards the end of the film is deeply plausible as she faces the very real possibility of being alone for the rest of her life.
The only cloying part of this film is a sub plot involving Kate's mother and her new Polish neighbour - which exploits every possible racial stereotype concerning foreigners and has an extremely predictable outcome.
Last Chance Harvey won't win any awards for originality and it won't surprise you for the moves it puts on your heartstrings - but it's a solid story with some solid performances from its leads which will give anyone who's still single and despairing a ray of cinematic hope.
Night At The Museum 2: Movie Review
Night At The Museum 2: Movie Review
Rating 5/10
Cast: Ben Stiller, Amy Adams, Robin Williams, Hank Azaria. Owen Wilson, Steve Coogan
Director: Shawn Levy
In the sequel to Night At the Museum, Ben Stiller's night guard Larry Daley is now a full time inventor, having left his twilight job at the Museum of Natural History behind him.
But on learning the gang who live at the museum (and come to life at night as you'll remember from the first film) is to be moved into Federal storage at the Smithsonian Museum, Larry sets out to try and rescue his old pals.
However, an evil Egyptian Pharaoh, (played by Hank Azaria in a scene stealing turn) has other plans and using an ancient tablet, he plots to rule the world - both inside the museum - and out.
Night At The Museum 2 is not a bad film - kids under 10 will love the animated antics and tomfoolery of the cast - and the Jonah Hill cameo as a Smithsonian guard is hilarious.
But as a piece of stand alone family entertainment, it fails to cross the spectrum of broad entertainment - and were it not for the stand out performance of Hank Azaria as a lisping megalomaniac with some great lines - and the wonderful Amy Adams as Amelia Earhart Larry's companion and would be romantic interest, this would have simply been another of those blockbuster films with special effects and little else.
There's nothing wrong with Stiller's performance as Larry, a man who's become so bewildered in life after becoming successful - and yes, there's a heavy handed message about doing what you love with people you love (an inspired message in these recessionary times) - as ever, he does that deadpan humour which has become his trademark but after a while it starts to get a bit thin.
However, the effects in the film are pretty impressive - there's been a lot of effort to bring to life various backgrounds throughout the museum and nothing's spared in making it all seem lifelike.
Ultimately though NATM2 just falls short of the mark.
Rating 5/10
Cast: Ben Stiller, Amy Adams, Robin Williams, Hank Azaria. Owen Wilson, Steve Coogan
Director: Shawn Levy
In the sequel to Night At the Museum, Ben Stiller's night guard Larry Daley is now a full time inventor, having left his twilight job at the Museum of Natural History behind him.
But on learning the gang who live at the museum (and come to life at night as you'll remember from the first film) is to be moved into Federal storage at the Smithsonian Museum, Larry sets out to try and rescue his old pals.
However, an evil Egyptian Pharaoh, (played by Hank Azaria in a scene stealing turn) has other plans and using an ancient tablet, he plots to rule the world - both inside the museum - and out.
Night At The Museum 2 is not a bad film - kids under 10 will love the animated antics and tomfoolery of the cast - and the Jonah Hill cameo as a Smithsonian guard is hilarious.
But as a piece of stand alone family entertainment, it fails to cross the spectrum of broad entertainment - and were it not for the stand out performance of Hank Azaria as a lisping megalomaniac with some great lines - and the wonderful Amy Adams as Amelia Earhart Larry's companion and would be romantic interest, this would have simply been another of those blockbuster films with special effects and little else.
There's nothing wrong with Stiller's performance as Larry, a man who's become so bewildered in life after becoming successful - and yes, there's a heavy handed message about doing what you love with people you love (an inspired message in these recessionary times) - as ever, he does that deadpan humour which has become his trademark but after a while it starts to get a bit thin.
However, the effects in the film are pretty impressive - there's been a lot of effort to bring to life various backgrounds throughout the museum and nothing's spared in making it all seem lifelike.
Ultimately though NATM2 just falls short of the mark.
Thursday, 28 May 2009
I Love You, Man: Movie Review
I Love You, Man: Movie Review
Rating: 7/10
Cast: Paul Rudd, Jason Segel, Rashida Jones, Jaime Pressly, The Guy who was the Hulk!
Director: John Hamburg
Ah, the bromance.
Bret and Jemaine have it, Laurel and Hardy had it - and now to the list of dynamic duos, you can add Paul Rudd and Jason Segel.
Rudd stars as Peter Klaven, a real estate agent, who having proposed to his girlfriend Zooey (Rashida Jones) suddenly realizes one day that he may have a gaping hole for who to select for best man.
For Klaven is a man who has no best buddies - so in a moment of inspired insanity, he sets out to be set up on a series of man-dates - to fill the emptiness in his heart (and at the altar).
Cue plenty of awkward (and downright amusing) moments as he tries to find Mr Right.
Until one day he meets Sydney Fife (Segel) at an open home - and the pair strike up a friendship - could Fife (deep breath) be the one?
And if he is, what does it mean for Peter's marriage to Zooey&.?
I Love You, Man is a riot - and it's down to Paul Rudd and Jason Segel's easy on-screen chemistry - the pair are perfect and the whole story subverts the usual "Do I call her", "What if she doesn't want to hang out" dynamic of romance flicks.
There are some real laugh out loud moments - mainly due to Rudd's increasing awkwardness (think David Brent from The Office on a larger scale) and attempts to try and be cool around his new BFF.
From a male point of view, it perfectly channels the feelings guys sometimes have as their circle of friends dwindle - and c'mon, how many of you have tried to go for after work drinks/ after gym drinks with people who wouldn't normally be more than casual acquaintances?
It's quite a sweet film - there's the romance of Peter and Zooey and also Sydney and Peter as they negotiate their own hang ups and become good friends.
There's also some great moments from Jon Favreau as one of Zooey's best friend's husband who's compelled to welcome Peter into his circle of man-friends.
In just a few scenes, Favreau manages to channel the childishness of someone forced to hang out with someone they don't know - and is quite brutally funny in his apathy.
But it's Paul Rudd's film again - after Role Models, Rudd's continuing to carve this niche as an actor who plays it so straight and so realistic, that every time he does something out of character (or tries to fit in) on screen, he sticks out like a sore thumb.
He's damn near perfected the art of cringeworthy comedy - where just as you think he can't humiliate himself any more, he manages to plumb new depths - albeit it in a very realistic way.
Kudos also need to be given to Jason Segel - whereas his character Syd could have gone too far into parody, by playing it 100% straight and realistic (with just a hint of crazy) he's the perfect foil to Rudd.
Sure, I Love You, Man won't change the world too much - but I bet any man who says he doesn't associate with Peter Klaven on some level is secretly lying and plotting how to meet more friends and bring back the bromance.
Rating: 7/10
Cast: Paul Rudd, Jason Segel, Rashida Jones, Jaime Pressly, The Guy who was the Hulk!
Director: John Hamburg
Ah, the bromance.
Bret and Jemaine have it, Laurel and Hardy had it - and now to the list of dynamic duos, you can add Paul Rudd and Jason Segel.
Rudd stars as Peter Klaven, a real estate agent, who having proposed to his girlfriend Zooey (Rashida Jones) suddenly realizes one day that he may have a gaping hole for who to select for best man.
For Klaven is a man who has no best buddies - so in a moment of inspired insanity, he sets out to be set up on a series of man-dates - to fill the emptiness in his heart (and at the altar).
Cue plenty of awkward (and downright amusing) moments as he tries to find Mr Right.
Until one day he meets Sydney Fife (Segel) at an open home - and the pair strike up a friendship - could Fife (deep breath) be the one?
And if he is, what does it mean for Peter's marriage to Zooey&.?
I Love You, Man is a riot - and it's down to Paul Rudd and Jason Segel's easy on-screen chemistry - the pair are perfect and the whole story subverts the usual "Do I call her", "What if she doesn't want to hang out" dynamic of romance flicks.
There are some real laugh out loud moments - mainly due to Rudd's increasing awkwardness (think David Brent from The Office on a larger scale) and attempts to try and be cool around his new BFF.
From a male point of view, it perfectly channels the feelings guys sometimes have as their circle of friends dwindle - and c'mon, how many of you have tried to go for after work drinks/ after gym drinks with people who wouldn't normally be more than casual acquaintances?
It's quite a sweet film - there's the romance of Peter and Zooey and also Sydney and Peter as they negotiate their own hang ups and become good friends.
There's also some great moments from Jon Favreau as one of Zooey's best friend's husband who's compelled to welcome Peter into his circle of man-friends.
In just a few scenes, Favreau manages to channel the childishness of someone forced to hang out with someone they don't know - and is quite brutally funny in his apathy.
But it's Paul Rudd's film again - after Role Models, Rudd's continuing to carve this niche as an actor who plays it so straight and so realistic, that every time he does something out of character (or tries to fit in) on screen, he sticks out like a sore thumb.
He's damn near perfected the art of cringeworthy comedy - where just as you think he can't humiliate himself any more, he manages to plumb new depths - albeit it in a very realistic way.
Kudos also need to be given to Jason Segel - whereas his character Syd could have gone too far into parody, by playing it 100% straight and realistic (with just a hint of crazy) he's the perfect foil to Rudd.
Sure, I Love You, Man won't change the world too much - but I bet any man who says he doesn't associate with Peter Klaven on some level is secretly lying and plotting how to meet more friends and bring back the bromance.
Monday, 18 May 2009
Toby Hadoke: Moths Ate My Doctor Who Scarf: Comedy Festival Review
Toby Hadoke: Moths Ate My Doctor Who Scarf: Comedy Festival Review
Okay, okay I know what you're thinking.
A show with the words "Dr" and "Who" in the title is only going to be for the ggeky among you.
Well, I'm here to tell you you're wrong - and it's safe to head out from behind the sofa and down to Auckland's Herald Theatre.
Toby Hadoke's one man show - or as he calls it a "hymn of praise of Doctor Who" - can be enjoyed on two levels.
Firstly, as a stand alone, self mocking autobiographical show - and secondly, if you are a fan of the series which began on November 23, 1963, you'll understand some of the character references thrown in.
But Toby's fully aware that his passion for this show may not be all encompassing - so when quoting titles of episodes as part of his stories, he leans to the uninitiated part of the audience and includes them by semi-sarcastically explaining the thrust of the episode - eg when talking about the 60s epic, The Dalek Invasion of Earth, Toby reveals to those who've never heard of it, that in this serial of the show, erm, Daleks invade Earth.
And it's this kind of welcoming, mocking attitude which leaves you with such a huge grin on your face.
Moths is heavily autobiographical, detailing Toby's teenage years and how his obsession and love of this show, helped him cope with family issues and feeling left out of some social circles.
However, Toby also has an excellent way of straddling the fanboy fervour which is prevalent in so many genres and turning it into something sarcastic, as well as something poignant.
He's quoted in our questionnaires as saying the show is "about growing up, being lost and finding yourself again" - and you can throw into that extrenmely funny.
Toby has an excellent take in acerbic and, at times, slightly self mockingly bitter one liners ("Life sucked all the tears from me") and you guess he was never the kid who fitted in at school - thanks mainly to parental- and sartorial - choices.
But where Toby does fit in in these days is by sharing the love he had for a show during his formative years - c'mon, admit it; we all had something when we were young which we couldn't bear to hear bad things about.
Moths Ate My Doctor Who Scarf is part memoir (Toby takes us back in time to quote parts of his diary - and those key interactions in his life co-incide with moments from the TV show), part stand up and downright hilarious.
Maybe there's just a little bit too much of myself which I recognised on stage during an hour of his company - but I guarantee the last two minutes when he talks about his son and how they bonded over the show which saw him socially outlawed will leave you with a tear in your eye.
For any parent, Moths is a reminder that your passions can be passed on (no matter how uncool they may have been) and for any fan of anything, it's an ode to holding a torch for something through thick and thin.
Oh, and there's also an appearance from a certain Time Lord which shows just how highly this stage show is appreciated.....make sure you see it before it disappears into the vortex.
Okay, okay I know what you're thinking.
A show with the words "Dr" and "Who" in the title is only going to be for the ggeky among you.
Well, I'm here to tell you you're wrong - and it's safe to head out from behind the sofa and down to Auckland's Herald Theatre.
Toby Hadoke's one man show - or as he calls it a "hymn of praise of Doctor Who" - can be enjoyed on two levels.
Firstly, as a stand alone, self mocking autobiographical show - and secondly, if you are a fan of the series which began on November 23, 1963, you'll understand some of the character references thrown in.
But Toby's fully aware that his passion for this show may not be all encompassing - so when quoting titles of episodes as part of his stories, he leans to the uninitiated part of the audience and includes them by semi-sarcastically explaining the thrust of the episode - eg when talking about the 60s epic, The Dalek Invasion of Earth, Toby reveals to those who've never heard of it, that in this serial of the show, erm, Daleks invade Earth.
And it's this kind of welcoming, mocking attitude which leaves you with such a huge grin on your face.
Moths is heavily autobiographical, detailing Toby's teenage years and how his obsession and love of this show, helped him cope with family issues and feeling left out of some social circles.
However, Toby also has an excellent way of straddling the fanboy fervour which is prevalent in so many genres and turning it into something sarcastic, as well as something poignant.
He's quoted in our questionnaires as saying the show is "about growing up, being lost and finding yourself again" - and you can throw into that extrenmely funny.
Toby has an excellent take in acerbic and, at times, slightly self mockingly bitter one liners ("Life sucked all the tears from me") and you guess he was never the kid who fitted in at school - thanks mainly to parental- and sartorial - choices.
But where Toby does fit in in these days is by sharing the love he had for a show during his formative years - c'mon, admit it; we all had something when we were young which we couldn't bear to hear bad things about.
Moths Ate My Doctor Who Scarf is part memoir (Toby takes us back in time to quote parts of his diary - and those key interactions in his life co-incide with moments from the TV show), part stand up and downright hilarious.
Maybe there's just a little bit too much of myself which I recognised on stage during an hour of his company - but I guarantee the last two minutes when he talks about his son and how they bonded over the show which saw him socially outlawed will leave you with a tear in your eye.
For any parent, Moths is a reminder that your passions can be passed on (no matter how uncool they may have been) and for any fan of anything, it's an ode to holding a torch for something through thick and thin.
Oh, and there's also an appearance from a certain Time Lord which shows just how highly this stage show is appreciated.....make sure you see it before it disappears into the vortex.
Lesbian Vampire Killers: Movie Review
Lesbian Vampire Killers: Movie Review
Rating: 6/10
Cast: James Corden, Mathew Horne, Paul McGann, MyAnna Buring, Lesbian Vampires
Director: Phil Claydon
Jimmy (Horne) and Fletch (Corden) are English no hopers; loser lads whose lives aren't going the way they should.
Jimmy's been dumped by his missus (after countless prior dumpings by her) and Fletch has just been given the push from his job as a clown.
Broke and down on their luck, they decide to head off on a hiking holiday (as they can't afford to go abroad) and end up in Cragwich Forest in deepest darkest England.
Things start to look up when they hook up with a quartet of young girls who seem to be up for a bit of partying and hooking up.
However, what they don't know is that the women of that village are cursed, doomed to become lesbian vampires at the age of 18&.and that Jimmy's got a part to play in an ancient curse.
Look, let's face it - if you title a film Lesbian Vampire Killers, it's pretty clear what market you're aiming for (for those of you struggling it's the lads and teen boys market) - and this film unashamedly pitches its camp squarely in those quarters.
Despite that, it's actually pretty funny in parts - and the majority of that is down to James Corden's Fletch.
Given the lion's share of the best comments, Corden is the Eric Morecambe to Mathew Horne's Ernie Wise.
The pair have an easy chemistry - and if you're a fan of them from TV ONE's Gavin and Stacey, you'll probably just see their characters as an extension of those two - Horne's the straight man who stares into the camera a lot with a resigned look on his face and Corden's the goofy mate who's always up for it.
The film itself stylistically looks brilliant - it's slightly drained of colour on screen and has a comic book feel (right down to titles plastered over the screen in parts) which suit it perfectly.
It also doesn't appear to take itself too seriously - Paul McGann as the vicar delivers a great performance, full of pomposity and occasional swearing (much to Fletch's mirth).
LVK won't shake the vampire genre on its head and it plays to pretty much softcore versions of lesbians and vampires (the vampires spend most of their time hissing and waving their hands about or making out), but if you're willing to check your brains at the door and just have 90 minutes of fun, this is a perfect night out.
Rating: 6/10
Cast: James Corden, Mathew Horne, Paul McGann, MyAnna Buring, Lesbian Vampires
Director: Phil Claydon
Jimmy (Horne) and Fletch (Corden) are English no hopers; loser lads whose lives aren't going the way they should.
Jimmy's been dumped by his missus (after countless prior dumpings by her) and Fletch has just been given the push from his job as a clown.
Broke and down on their luck, they decide to head off on a hiking holiday (as they can't afford to go abroad) and end up in Cragwich Forest in deepest darkest England.
Things start to look up when they hook up with a quartet of young girls who seem to be up for a bit of partying and hooking up.
However, what they don't know is that the women of that village are cursed, doomed to become lesbian vampires at the age of 18&.and that Jimmy's got a part to play in an ancient curse.
Look, let's face it - if you title a film Lesbian Vampire Killers, it's pretty clear what market you're aiming for (for those of you struggling it's the lads and teen boys market) - and this film unashamedly pitches its camp squarely in those quarters.
Despite that, it's actually pretty funny in parts - and the majority of that is down to James Corden's Fletch.
Given the lion's share of the best comments, Corden is the Eric Morecambe to Mathew Horne's Ernie Wise.
The pair have an easy chemistry - and if you're a fan of them from TV ONE's Gavin and Stacey, you'll probably just see their characters as an extension of those two - Horne's the straight man who stares into the camera a lot with a resigned look on his face and Corden's the goofy mate who's always up for it.
The film itself stylistically looks brilliant - it's slightly drained of colour on screen and has a comic book feel (right down to titles plastered over the screen in parts) which suit it perfectly.
It also doesn't appear to take itself too seriously - Paul McGann as the vicar delivers a great performance, full of pomposity and occasional swearing (much to Fletch's mirth).
LVK won't shake the vampire genre on its head and it plays to pretty much softcore versions of lesbians and vampires (the vampires spend most of their time hissing and waving their hands about or making out), but if you're willing to check your brains at the door and just have 90 minutes of fun, this is a perfect night out.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Very latest post
Honest Thief: DVD Review
Honest Thief: DVD Review In Honest Thief, a fairly competent story is given plenty of heart and soul before falling into old action genre tr...
-
The Last Of Us Part II: PS4 Review Developed by Naughty Dog Platform: PS4 Wracked with but not wrecked by spoilers dropping before rele... -
Sex Tape: Movie Review Cast: Cameron Diaz, Jason Segal, Ellie Kemper, Rob Corddry, Rob Lowe Director: Jake Kasdan Predicated around the ... -
Brand new Oblivion posters unveiled Entertainment Weekly' s got the first look at some new Oblivion posters. The Oblivion posters s...
