A food additive factory owner’s life spirals out of control. Low-key comedy with thriller elements – Coen lite in some ways – that really works if you let its ambient approach take you. A great cast on decent form helps. Not Judge’s best work, but enjoyable nevertheless.
Here’s the trailer.
A small group takes a backwater fishing excursion: they fall foul of a man-eating crocodile in the swamps. Well-sustained little Australian suspense/horror flick, making the most of location shooting and the limitations of the set-up. A belated sequel followed.
Here’s the trailer.
Superior telling of the Arthurian legend with a fine cast, beautiful cinematography and strong direction from Boorman. Perhaps a tad over romanticised, but fabulous performances from the likes of Williamson and Byrne hold this together creating something very special.
An ex-con seeks revenge on gang that killed his brother. Early Dwayne Johnson vehicle that throws story logic out of the window in favour of plot contrivance. Nothing new to offer but nicely shot – with clear intentions to show Johnson off as more than an ex-wrestler.
A father makes a deal with the DEA and works undercover to save his son. This attempt at gritty drama is hampered with a trite script and a lost cast including a strange choice of lead. The result is reasonably compelling though suffering with a weak final act.
A Christmas-hating misanthrope decides to steal the holiday from the nearby town of Whoville. While the Dr Seuss story stretches too thin to really make a movie, this is nevertheless a fun, clever attempt with great animation and fine voice work from lead Cumberbatch.
Here’s the trailer.
A struggling seaside resort – Fircombe – hosts a beauty contest to attract visitors. Tatty late series entry, from the third – holiday-based – cycle of Carry On flicks. Either harmless picture postcard fun or a relic from a bygone age: a stagey sex farce that’s fascinating if not that funny.
Here’s the trailer.
A scientist warns against a new ice age: when it hits, he embarks on a quest to rescue his son. Earnest though daft ecological disaster flick: its environmental messaging gets somewhat lost in soap operatics, awkward storytelling, and contrived menace.
Here’s the trailer.
Two years on, and an unhappy Kate Pierce is kidnapped by a cast-out elf aiming to get revenge on Santa. Sprawling grab-bag sequel, mashing up Milton, Gremlins and a hundred other properties. Messy and uncoordinated, though Kurt Russell is having fun, plus he gets another Blues Brothers-ish singalong set piece.
Here’s the trailer.
A chaotic Londoner begins to repair her broken relationships when she meets a handsome stranger. Schematic sub-Richard Curtis romantic comedy which, a few good lines aside, clings to the clumsiest of premises. Heartless, but harmless: Henry Golding makes for am impressive beau though.
Here’s the trailer.
![The Grinch [AKA Dr Seuss’ The Grinch] (2018, dir. Scott Mosier & Yarrow Cheney)](https://255review.files.wordpress.com/2020/12/the-grinch-2018-poster.jpg?w=1080)
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