Here Comes The Boom Review

The Plot:

In order to save his schools underfunded music programme and his friend’s job; a delinquent biology teacher must become a trained Mixed Martial Arts fighter in his spare time, battling all the way to the Ultimate Fighting Championships to raise the desperately needed cash. He’s also hoping that along the way he’ll win the love of the unimpressed school nurse.

The Good:

Here Comes The Boom aims itself clearly at audiences that finds Kevin James’ trademark brand of buffoonery hilarious and it should safely hit that target. James deploys his usual arsenal of well-practiced hangdog expressions and obvious best intentions.  Quickly shaking off some initial grumpy apathy his character Scott Voss soon becomes exactly that kind of good natured bumbling underdog he plays so well.

James even manages a bit of unlikely romantic chemistry with Salma Hayek’s disapproving school nurse, though mostly thanks to her obvious charms. Salma Hayek proves once again that she really excels at playing Salma Hayek.

Henry Winkler meanwhile playing a mild mannered music teacher provides a good comedy sparring partner for Scott’s overly enthusiastic fighting coach Niko, played by the imposing Bas Rutten. Their happy enthusiasm is what keeps the film from being as unforgivably awful as so many other ‘knockabout’ comedy efforts that are overly reliant on the joy of watching a portly fellow attempting to do sports.

The Bad:

Here Comes the Boom is watchable but admittedly predictable. If you were to guess the plot and how the film ends right now, you’d be right. The film’s laughs do also often come as expected courtesy of Kevin James getting hit in the face rather hard by a foot or a fist.

King of Queens star Kevin James doesn’t have a reputation for subtlety and it should be obvious even from the title that Here Comes The Boom will be no different from his previous efforts. The film’s literally heavy handed slapstick comedy and lack of surprises might leave some audiences a little unamused and uninspired.

At least the film mostly avoids descending into puerile toilet humour. For example, projectile vomiting is only used as a punch line once. Whether they make you chuckle or groan at least James’ pratfalls lack the sort of mean spirited nastiness of so many current comedy offerings, it is all safe feel-good antics.

The Ugly Truth:

Here Comes The Boom is as subtle as a slap in the face, but thankfully less awful. Kevin James might fail to land too many knockout comedy blows, but an innately likeable supporting cast keeps the film from hitting the mat in the first round. Fans of James’ past efforts can be reassured the new film sticks close to that template and those who are immune to his ‘charms’ can take solace in the fact that at least this time he does get repeatedly beaten up. So whatever your persuasion it’s moderately satisfying.

Video Interview below with Kevin James:

I Give It A Year Review

The Plot:

After a whirlwind romance an obviously mismatched couple get married, only to discover that their first year of wedded bliss brings more trouble and temptations than they could possibly have imagined.

The Good:

Working Title has an outstanding pedigree in almost single handily inventing the genre of British romantic comedy. They’ve previously been proudly responsible for globally adored classics like Four Weddings and a Funeral, Bridget Jones Diary, Notting Hill and Love Actually. With their latest effort they have delivered something a little less cliché and slightly more risqué than usual, but still reliably enjoyable.

As expected, the film boasts a well assembled ensemble cast of seasoned comedy performers. Bridesmaids star and Australian beauty Rose Byrne slips convincingly into a polished English accent, emulating Rene Zellweger’s laudable efforts in Bridget Jones Diary. Meanwhile Mentalist star Simon Baker is a convincingly charming American hunk and Rafe Spall is a suitably buffoonish Englishman.
Anna Faris plays well against type as a dowdy aid worker and Minnie Driver has fun as a mean spirited cougar with very vocal husband hatred.

Stephen Merchant is finally emerging out of the shadows as Ricky Gervais unappreciated sidekick/writing partner to secure his own deserved comedy star status. A scene stealing performance in this film as an atrocious best man and a reliably tactless best friend should go even further in winning him a growing army of fans. Characters whose sole function seems to be providing a constant stream of inappropriate crudeness are typically obnoxious, but Merchants ungainly likeability serves him very well in avoiding that fate.

Dan Mazer’s script rarely falters too badly and combining these collective comedic talents with easy set pieces like embarrassing wedding dances, disastrous dating and the world’s worst marriage counsellor yields some highly amusing results.

The Bad:

The film trades cynical laughs for the usual mushy romantics. It certainly provides an easy array of crude humour, but may leave audiences seeking the uniquely intense hit of romantic sentimentality that films like Love Actually provide a little disappointed.

There’s nothing quite like seeing a boy and girl finally overcoming an insurmountable array of obstacles and fumbling misunderstandings to get together in a satisfyingly saccharine finale. I Give It A Year has plenty of belly laughs, but it lacks that kind of heart.  It’s simply difficult to emotional invest in the characters romantic plights. The film pokes fun at ‘love’ a little too often and aggressively to allow much room for genuine emotions.

The only other negative is that the individual characters lack the quirky memorable charm of some of Working Titles best efforts. In particular, Rafe Spall as one half of our leading couple is a little too drunkenly idiotic at times. It’s difficult to care about the happiness of a moronic slob and easy to wonder why he’s being inflicted on some of the other characters. It obviously would be easier to root for a polite mumbling underdog typically played by Hugh Grant.

The Ugly Truth:

I Give It A Year delivers a steady stream of laugh out loud moments that is easy to watch and generally satisfying, despite lacking some of the usual gushing romance of standard British rom-coms. To an extent it almost feels like a parody of the genre and Working Title’s previous classics bit it is still enjoyable in its own right.

I Give It A Year London Premiere interviews below:

Hitchcock Review

The Plot

The sensational true story of how iconic director Alfred Hitchcock made his undisputed masterpiece Psycho. Hitchcock is an intimate biopic exploring the infamous obsessions and eccentricities o the so called master of suspense. The film also delves deeply into Hitchcock’s profound relationship with his wife and constant creative collaborator Alma Reville.

The Good

Anthony Hopkins tackles an incredibly difficult task, in trying to deliver a performance that captures such a familiar figure without resorting to a simple caricature. His convincing work is especially impressive given the obvious burden of the fat suit and extensive makeup he’s wearing. Skilled acting actually does as much as his fabricated physical appearance to transform Hopkins into Hitchcock.

Helen Mirren is likewise on typically accomplished form as Hitchcock’s long suffering and supportive wife Alma. She does a particularly excellent job of capturing the frustrations of living in the shadow of Hitchcock’s demanding ego and celebrated public image.

Fans of the silver screen and Hitchcock’s genius will also enjoy seeing other familiar names and faces brought to life, for example by modern day screen sirens Scarlett Johansson and Jessica Biel. The film delves beyond the simple details of Hitchcock’s private life to provide a dramatic documentation of the troublesome production of a movie masterpiece.

The Bad

Alfred Hitchcock had such a unique physical and vocal presence that it’s hard for anyone to truly do justice to that vivid memory.  Anthony Hopkins certainly succeeds in capturing Hitchcock’s mannerisms and instantly recognisable voice, but in truth the extensive makeup required to physically transform him into the rotund director is distracting at times. Sadly there’s a certain rubbery quality to his face that even an accomplished actor can’t disguise.

The film also has wider issues. Watching Hitchcock fight with reluctant studio heads, dismissive critics and self-doubt as he battles to make the definitive slasher film; is less entertaining and dramatic when we all know full well the film did indeed get released and proved to be one of the greatest successes of his enviable career.

The film tries to add some depth and darkness by exploring Hitchcock’s private and very public obsession with murder. However having Hitchcock imagine friendly chats with dead serial killers feels heavy handed and overly melodramatic. Similarly showing Hitchcock’s lurid fantasies of violence seems gratuitous and ineffective. We know full well Hitchcock isn’t about to go on a killing spree, dispatching his wife and leading ladies.

The Ugly Truth

Hitchcock does a fine job of portraying one of cinemas most enduring icons at a landmark moment in filmmaking history. It should also certainly satisfy nostalgic fans looking for a peak into the making of a classic film.

BAFTA Full Guest List Confirmed

Stephen Fry hosts Britain’s answer to the Oscars this weekend on Sunday night at Royal Opera House forthe EE British Academy Film Awards. The annual ceremony  recognizes, honours and rewards individuals for outstanding achievement in feature and short films, produced worldwide and released in UK cinemas.

Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln leads with 10 nominations; Les Miserables and Life Of Pi follow with nine; Skyfall received eight nods; Argo notched up seven; Anna Karenina has six; Django Unchained and Zero Dark Thirty follow with five apiece.

This year’s red carpet looks set to be one of the most start studded in the history of BAFTA with an ever growing  list of nominees and excited stars already confirmed. Check out the full list below:

CONFIRMED ATTENDING:

Stephen Fry, Sir Alan Parker CBE, Jessica Chastain, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, Steven Spielberg, Anne Hathaway, Daniel Day-Lewis, Dame Helen Mirren, Javier Bardem, Sam Mendes CBE, Dame Judi Dench, Christoph Waltz,Quentin Tarantino, Amy Adams, Joaquin Phoenix, David O. Russell, Olivier Nakache,Eric Toledano, Marion Cotillard, Jacques Audiard, Ang Lee, Hugh Jackman, Tommy Lee-Jones, Emmanuelle Riva, Danny Boyle, Martin Freeman, Ben Affleck, Andrea Riseborough, Elizabeth Olsen, Jennifer Garner, Tom Hooper, Samuel L Jackson, Billy Connolly CBE, Alicia Vikander, Barbara Broccoli, Sir Cameron Mackintosh, Eric Fellner, Juno Temple, Michael G Wilson, Sally Field, Suraj Sharma, Tim Bevan, Tim Burton, Alice Eve, Ben Whishaw, Chris Tucker, David Morrissey, Eddie Redmayne,Gemma Arterton, Helen McCrory, Henry Cavill, Sir Ian McKellen, Jeremy Irvine,Jeremy Renner, John C Reilly, Kevin Spacey CBE, Mark Strong, Nicholas Hoult, Olga Kurylenko, Paloma Faith, Rafe Spall, Saoirse Ronan, Sarah Jessica Parker, Sarah Silverman, Simon Pegg, Tom Hiddleston

Sarah Harding Talks Solo Plans & Girls Aloud Future

Speaking on the red carpet in London at the world premiere of her new comedy film Run For Your Wife, popstar Sarah Harding spoke about her plans to launch a solo singing career and the future of Girls Aloud. Rumours had long circulated that the current Girls Aloud Tour could be their last.

However in news sure to delight fans of the popular girl group Sarah Harding confirmed that there are no current plans to call it quits anytime soon.  According to Harding the girls have all matured and they’d never say never to more shows in the future, especially following the inspiring example of the Spice Girls.

Video clip below: