Mr Right
What’s it about?
A girl coming out of a breakup falls for the “perfect” guy, who happens to have a very fatal flaw: he’s a hitman. Well, former hitman who still kills people. And who is on the run from the mob. It’s complicated.
What did we think?
A delightfully quirky film that has most of the makings of a great cult movie, Mr Right just doesn’t quite get there. Anna Kendrick and Sam Rockwell’s chemistry is palpable and has you entranced whenever they share the screen. Unfortunately the over-the-top performances from the rest of the cast not only steal a lot of the impact of our lovers’ quirkiness they detract from the overall feel. More realistic bad guys and this is the best ever action-rom-com of all time. As it is it’s still a pleasure and worthy of re-watching. The premise behind Rockwell’s amazing abilities and Kendrick’s cuteness alone has me looking forward to a second go already.
Now You See Me 2
What’s it about?
Your favourite vigilante illusionists are back out of hiding but they’re quickly leveraged into pulling off a big heist.
What did we think?
Dan says: Disclaimer: I enjoyed Highlander 2 when I first saw it because I’d never seen the first and didn’t realise what it was destroying. This could also be the case with this sequel.
Heist films have had to become more and more fanciful since Simon Dermott activated an alarm with a boomerang in ‘How to steal a million’. Now they seem to require back-flipping samurai or driving Mini Coopers down hallways. Ed Solomon (Bill and Ted) pens absurd levels of silliness in this caper. It’s delightful and joyous, but try not to work out how they did the tricks… or in fact anything… during their escapades. Best to allow them to make your brain disappear, then reappear after the credits roll.
Ta DA!
Angry Birds
What’s it about?
When an island populated by happy, flightless birds is visited by mysterious green piggies, it’s up to three unlikely outcasts with anger problems – Red, Chuck and Bomb – to figure out what the pigs are up to.
What did we think?
The thought of a movie based on an app filled me with dread but this movie had more charm than it had a right to. It’s hardly going to be remembered as a classic but there are enough gags – both relating to the game and life in general – to keep most attentions on the screen. Certainly the kids will laugh at the over the top antics of the characters and at the end of the day that’s what this film is about.
X-Men Apocalypse
What’s it about?
The X-Men must reunite to face a nearly immortal and super powerful mutant who plans to bring on the apocalypse.
What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: At one point one of the characters in the film comments that the third movie is never as good. It’s as if director Brian Singer was signalling his surrender. Certainly this instalment doesn’t fail because of it’s lack of ambition; it’s just that there’s very little new or even exciting. The same aspirational tone of Xavier having the same argument with grief-stricken Magneto? Check. Cameos for the fanboys? Check. Impressive fx? Check. Unveiling new fan favourites of the ensemble? Check (though we hardly explore them at all). A cliched story hinging on hoping for the better? Check.
It’s what it’s missing that lets it down. A coherent, flowing story for a start, and while movies don’t automatically need a twist this one sure needed something. The clever layers that set the previous movies in the franchise apart are well and truly missing.
Perhaps the expanding cast and easter egg nods to comic book fans will be enough for some but in my opinion this could be the apocalypse for the mutant franchise. To be fair there’s a degree of comic book movie fatigue around at the moment but it doesn’t change the fact this flick is simply not fresh or even very smart.
Green Room
What’s it about?
Teen angst, neo-nazis and punk rock. What could go wrong?
What did we think?
Stephen Scott says: “Pretentious twaddle” was all I thought for the first half hour: a meandering tale following a punk band that’s rejected the internet because music is “in the now”. Then they get a paying gig. Character backstory is over. Now everyone is going to die by bite, blade or bullet cartridge.
Patrick Stewart is the creepiest neo-nazi you’re going to see in a long, long time.
The Boss
What’s It About?
When rich CEO and motivational speaker Michelle Darnell (Melissa McCarthy) goes down for insider trading, all her assets are frozen. She vows to get back on top, using a little girl’s brownie selling business to do it.
What Did We Think?
Elizabeth says: A diabolically awful movie, somewhat saved by the fact that Tyler Labine is so damn likeable and Melissa McCarthy is one fucking funny woman to watch.
What’s Popular
Paddington 2
What’s it about?
Aunt Lucy is turning 100 and Paddington has his eye on the perfect present: a meticulously beautiful pop-up book of London … but so has a thief with a taste for the theatrical.
What did we think?
Stephen Scott says: With the classic Paddington stories montaged out of the way in the first movie, a cohesive tale can now be told, making a much more enjoyable experience. So enjoyable, I can safely say that Paddington 2 is, paws down, the best movie of 2017.
“But it’s not a serious movie!” I hear the purists scream. Let me explain: it doesn’t have to be. The charm and happiness it creates from classic slapstick and a heart-warming narrative ensures it is hilarious, uplifting and utterly delightful.
All The Money In The World
What’s it about?
Despite having “all the money in the world”, JP Getty (Kevin Spacey Christopher Plummer) refuses to pay a ransom when his grandson is kidnapped.
What did we think?
Elizabeth Best says: When editing someone out of a film and still insisting you can stick to your release date, you better make damn sure you do a good job of it. And what a job director Ridley Scott, Plummer and the cast have done, rallying to erase Spacey post #MeToo scandal. Plummer’s performance, shot in just 10 days, is masterful (and with a much larger part than I assumed). Controversy aside, Scott has created a film that remains gripping, even if you know the history behind this “based on true events” tale. I dare you to try and stop yourself muttering “you motherf–ker” every time the penny-pinching Getty sinks lower than you think he could possibly ever go.
Replacing Spacey was the best decision Scott ever made, as having someone with compromised moral character play this asshole would have been film-killing.
The Greatest Showman
What’s it about?
A flash look of the life of legendary showman and salesman PT Barnham told in the style of a larger-than-life musical (of course).
What did we think?
Visually sumptuous, The Greatest Showman embraces chasing dreams, love and acceptance and anyone with joy in their heart will be swept away.
A stellar cast put in incredible performances and the soundtrack is both truly stunning and catchy. Audiences unfamiliar with the musical device of having periods of time pass during songs may feel the story is rushed and light, but with so much to tell the choice is a strong – albeit unusual – one.
Similarly, the promotion of aspiration over historical narrative provides a feel-good story. It’s not perfect and certainly different but there’s just so much to love about this musical spectacular that it’s easy to overlook the flaws. It’s fitting that a film about Barnham is more style than substance. After all, sometimes the entertainment is more important than the art.
Downsizing
What’s it about?
A couple decide to embrace mankind’s newest invention to combat overpopulation – a shrinking process that will see them not only become small but insanely rich.
What did we think?
The producers and marketers of this film should be locked up for fraud. The trailer was fresh, original, entertaining and exciting: exactly everything the film is not. In actuality, it is a depressing story that meanders morbidly around while wasting its truly talented cast. The second half of the movie doesn’t even utilise the whole shrinking premise; it’s wasted beyond some early laughs.
Editor's Choice
Paddington 2
What’s it about?
Aunt Lucy is turning 100 and Paddington has his eye on the perfect present: a meticulously beautiful pop-up book of London … but so has a thief with a taste for the theatrical.
What did we think?
Stephen Scott says: With the classic Paddington stories montaged out of the way in the first movie, a cohesive tale can now be told, making a much more enjoyable experience. So enjoyable, I can safely say that Paddington 2 is, paws down, the best movie of 2017.
“But it’s not a serious movie!” I hear the purists scream. Let me explain: it doesn’t have to be. The charm and happiness it creates from classic slapstick and a heart-warming narrative ensures it is hilarious, uplifting and utterly delightful.
All The Money In The World
What’s it about?
Despite having “all the money in the world”, JP Getty (Kevin Spacey Christopher Plummer) refuses to pay a ransom when his grandson is kidnapped.
What did we think?
Elizabeth Best says: When editing someone out of a film and still insisting you can stick to your release date, you better make damn sure you do a good job of it. And what a job director Ridley Scott, Plummer and the cast have done, rallying to erase Spacey post #MeToo scandal. Plummer’s performance, shot in just 10 days, is masterful (and with a much larger part than I assumed). Controversy aside, Scott has created a film that remains gripping, even if you know the history behind this “based on true events” tale. I dare you to try and stop yourself muttering “you motherf–ker” every time the penny-pinching Getty sinks lower than you think he could possibly ever go.
Replacing Spacey was the best decision Scott ever made, as having someone with compromised moral character play this asshole would have been film-killing.
The Greatest Showman
What’s it about?
A flash look of the life of legendary showman and salesman PT Barnham told in the style of a larger-than-life musical (of course).
What did we think?
Visually sumptuous, The Greatest Showman embraces chasing dreams, love and acceptance and anyone with joy in their heart will be swept away.
A stellar cast put in incredible performances and the soundtrack is both truly stunning and catchy. Audiences unfamiliar with the musical device of having periods of time pass during songs may feel the story is rushed and light, but with so much to tell the choice is a strong – albeit unusual – one.
Similarly, the promotion of aspiration over historical narrative provides a feel-good story. It’s not perfect and certainly different but there’s just so much to love about this musical spectacular that it’s easy to overlook the flaws. It’s fitting that a film about Barnham is more style than substance. After all, sometimes the entertainment is more important than the art.
Downsizing
What’s it about?
A couple decide to embrace mankind’s newest invention to combat overpopulation – a shrinking process that will see them not only become small but insanely rich.
What did we think?
The producers and marketers of this film should be locked up for fraud. The trailer was fresh, original, entertaining and exciting: exactly everything the film is not. In actuality, it is a depressing story that meanders morbidly around while wasting its truly talented cast. The second half of the movie doesn’t even utilise the whole shrinking premise; it’s wasted beyond some early laughs.