The Inbetweeners: Series one: DVD Review

The Inbetweeners: Series one: DVD Review

The Inbetweeners Series 1
Rating:R16
Released by Roadshow and Hopscotch

A brilliantly scabrous and scatological comedy about a quartet of teenage boys and their misadventures in suburbia, this six part series is hilarious.

Simon Bird stars as gawky kid Will McKenzie, who's just moved into the area and has gone from private school to comprehensive; to make matters worse, he ends up befriending a trio of misfits who're sex obsessed, intellectually lacking and socially backward.

But you can't choose your friends...

Funny, crude, shocking and a perfect peek into teen boy mentality, there's much to love about the Inbetweeners - from bunking off to hitting an amusement park, the episodes are perfectly formed, incisively observed and dangerously addictive.

There's another 2 series to go after this and the excitement of a film as well - so jump in now - just make sure your parents aren't watching&.

Extras: Commentary by writers and cast, video diaries, the making of and deleted scenes

Rating: 8/10 

An Idiot Abroad: Blu ray review

An Idiot Abroad: Blu ray review

An Idiot Abroad
Rating: M
Released by Roadshow and BBC

A travel doco with an Englishman who hates the idea of being abroad.

Sounds intriguing but that's what this 8 part series is about - and stars Karl Pilkington who some will know as the third member of the comedy triumvirate who include Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant.

Essentially the show's premise is Ricky Gervais insisting Pilkington check out the Seven Wonders of the World and watching him struggle to cope with new cultures, situations and people.

The highlights are the trips to India where Pilkington pushes his insane theories about people to the limit; and China. The locations look stunning on HD on the BluRay release and it's all the better for it.

Pilkington's sense of wonder and skewed view of the world is very Little Englander abroad but it's frequently responsible for reducing this reviewer to tears of laughter.

Extras: Preview show, deleted scenes and photogallery

Rating: 7/10  

The Sarah Jane Adventures: S3 - DVD Review

The Sarah Jane Adventures: S3 - DVD Review

The Sarah Jane Adventures Season 3
Rating: PG
Released by BBC and Roadshow

A sci fi series aimed at the kids (but watched by many an adult thanks to the acting and storywriting) this latest season of the spin off series from Dr Who continues to be as fun and thought provoking as the previous ones.

A series of five two part adventures, this pacily written and sharply directed series is a joy from beginning to end; and the added bonus of this season is that it marks the final appearance of David Tennant's 10th Doctor.

Monsters from the 2005 revived series make an appearance and it's a welcome touch to cross over the two series. Coupled with some impressive child acting and Elisabeth Sladen's talents, the series is over all too quickly.

This latest release comes shortly after the sad passing of fan fave Elisabeth Sladen which adds a further poignancy to this - the only disappointment is a relative lack of extras.

Rating: 7/10

True Grit: Blu Ray Review

True Grit: Blu Ray Review

True Grit
Rating: M
Released by Universal Home Ent

Jeff Bridges stars as Rooster Cogburn in this Coen Bros helmed remake of the 1969 Western which originally starred John Wayne.
Cogburn's a one-eyed US Marshall who's charged by Hailee Steinfeld's teenaged Mattie Ross to bring her father's killer, Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin) to justice.

Initially reticent, Cogburn takes on the job - and ends up teaming up with Texas Ranger La Beouf (Matt Damon) who's also tracking Chaney.

The three of them head out on the trail - with Ross determined to make sure Cogburn brings her father's killer home to face justice rather than see him swing in Texas (La Beouf's wishes).

But when Mattie accidentally stumbles across Chaney, the quest suddenly becomes deadly.

True Grit is a straight forward Western, which while sublime in places may not appeal to everyone.

Bridges and Damon are good but all in honesty, they're acted off the screen by Steinfeld, whose performance is astoundingly star making. Her Mattie is precocious, head strong and described by one character as "hard as nails". And yet once or twice, when the bravado slips, Steinfeld brings to the role a steely vulnerability and a humanity which it's hard not to warm to - or be impressed by - it's
a star making turn and one of the best reasons to see this film.

Extras: Plenty of behind the scenes, casting, trailer, doco about the writer - a good solid bunch.

Rating: 8/10

Tangled: Blu Ray Review

Tangled: Blu Ray Review

Tangled
Released by Disney
Rating: PG

It's Disney's 50th animated film.

And to celebrate, they're rolling out an animated version of Rapunzel for the small screen.

Mandy Moore stars as the erstwhile long haired princess Rapunzel, who's trapped in the tower by the evil Gothel (Donna Murphy). You see, Gothel knows that Rapunzel's hair has the power to turn back time and make people young again - and in true evil, godmother fashion she wants to keep that power all for her own.

However, as Rapunzel reaches her 18th birthday, she decides what she wants to do to celebrate is to leave the tower and see the lights which appear every year without fail on her birthday. (Unbeknownst to her, those lights are floating lanterns, launched by her parents as they try to find her.)

Gothel says no - but Rapunzel (and her pet chameleon Pascal) finds her life changed by the arrival of thief Flynn Rider (Chuck's Zachary Levi) who is looking for a hideout.

Flynn is coerced into helping - and together, the duo set off into the kingdom

Tangled is a good ole fashioned Disney film - with songs within minutes of opening (complete with catchy lyrics such as 'Don't risk the drama, stay with Mama' and 'I could be called deadly from my killer show medley') it's clearly aimed at provoking a bit of nostalgia within the audience.

But there's a sharp deftness to the script which sees it veer from being a little too old fashioned - and it's enlivened by great performances from Zachary Levi and Mandy Moore who give their characters a real boost from their subtle vocal tones.

Good family fun and a sign that old school simple story telling are still the Disney fortes and trademarks.

Extras: A 2 disc blu ray packs in deleted scenes, storybook openings, extended songs, making of and a 50th feature - as well as a DVD version of the film too

Rating: 8/10  

Bad Teacher: Movie Review

Bad Teacher: Movie Review

Bad Teacher
Rating: 4/10
Cast: Cameron Diaz, Jason Segel, Justin Timberlake, Lucy Punch
Director: Jake Kasdan
You'd think a raunchy comedy involving Cameron Diaz as an apathetic, pot smoking, drinking and uncaring teacher would be a natural sequel to Billy Bob Thornton's Bad Santa.
But I'm sorry to say this film is probably about as far away from that as you can get.
Diaz plays Elizabeth Halsey, a just retired teacher at a school, who's dumped by her fiancee after she's accused of gold digging by her would be mom-in-law. So facing a lack of cash and determined to get $10,000 for a boob job so she can net a sugar daddy, Halsey heads back to middle school and tries to cruise by and simply earn the cash she needs for surgery.
When Justin Timberlake's Scott Delacorte starts up as a supply teacher alongside Elizabeth, she senses he's got a bit of cash to splash and an inheritance to dig her claws into.
But what she's not reckoned with is Lucy Punch's uptight co-worker and all round do gooder teacher Amy Squirrel whose natural perkiness (both physically and on the job) just seems to get up Halsey's nose....
Throw into the mix Jason Segel's gym teacher, Russell who's got a crush on Halsey and it's a case of problems ahoy in the classroom.
Vulgar and crude can work - and in some parts of this film, it is laugh out loud funny as the foulest things come out of sweet looking Cameron Diaz's mouth - but there's little else on show in this "comedy" which exploits Diaz's sleazy looks and body for "laughs". (There's even a scene with Diaz wearing very short shorts and hosing herself down at a charity car wash while a rock song plays loudly in the background.)
Don't get me wrong, this has its moments and Segal, Diaz and Timberlake get by on the screen but the laughs in this flat comedy are few and far between - sure, there are some great one liners which cause mirth but it's not enough to get you through the film without it feeling like it's sagging. Diaz works as hard as she can but she can't save it - and really, who's rooting for a dumped, disdainful and selfish character whose prime motivation is simply a boob job....?

By now, you've probably come to the conclusion that I'm a prude with no sense of humour;I'd like to strongly assure you that is not so but I did end up feeling like Bad Teacher was a really missed opportunity; sure for the teen audience, and mainly young lads, this is probably high on their watching list.

My Afternoons with Margueritte: Movie Review

My Afternoons with Margueritte: Movie Review

My Afternoons with Margueritte
Rating: 6/10
Cast: Gerard Depardieu, Gisele Casadesus
Director: Jean Becker
Gerard Depardieu stars in this gently Gallic rustic piece about friendship.
He plays Germain Chazes a man who starts the film kicking down a door after being ripped off for doing a job.
On a walk back home he meets Margueritte (Casadesus) a kindly old lady and a friendship is slowly born through a shared book and a love of stories, as well as feeding the local pigeons.
My Afternoons with Margueritte is a gentle and pleasant piece which is as breezy as a summer cloud.
It's a sweet piece about the regrets of the past - Depardieu, looking incredibly portly and like Obelix from the French comics, is affable and loveable enough as he negotiates a monstrous mother who along with school has held him back for years as various flashbacks explain. Equally his friendship with Casadesus is easy and understandable as they continue to meet - it contrasts nicely with the harsh ribbing he takes from friends at a local cafe.

There's a sweet vibe to this film which wafts you along with it in a very simple way. It may not be the most memorable of pieces but it's certainly uplifting and heart warming as it plays out before you.