Love and Other Drugs

While Love and Other Drugs starts out as a light-hearted romcom, starring Anne Hathaway and Jake Gyllenhaal, it soon turns to something more serious.

The good news is that Jake and Anne are accomplished enough to handle the turn in mood expertly. The bad news is that the story uses a terminal illness as the catalyst for a change in the pair’s casual relationship, which always leaves one feeling slightly nauseated. Seriously – do people really find certain death romantic?

Like I said, Jake and Anne manage to save the script from being complete mush, but still prepare yourself for a) some romantic clichés and b) a few wrist-slitting, heart-wrenching moments between the lovers as they try come to terms with their elephant in the room.

Rating: 3 outta 5.

Tangled

In the modern-day, Disney-animated version of Rapunzel, the handsome prince is actually a petty thief called Flynn, and Rapunzel is a self-sufficient young woman who uses her wily hair to capture him when he tries to seek refuge in her tower.

There’s a dashing white horse, a chameleon, an evil momma and, of course, a daring rescue and lots of other twists and turns, all making this my favourite animated film of the year so far. Pure, unadulterated fun!

Rating: 4/5

Nowhere Boy

This movie is about John Lennon but it is not about his meteoric rise to fame as part of the Beatles.

Loosely based on a memoir written by his sister, the story tracks John’s upbringing in a grey and uninspiring Liverpool, as well as his complicated relationship with his mother and aunt. Although we get glimpses of the future Beatles and a smidgen of insight into their creative genius, the film is by no means a bio of their collective history. More than anything this is merely the first chapter in the tome of an extraordinary life.

Rating: 3 outta 5.

Splice

Two scientists use human DNA to make something that looks like a cross between a rat and a Chucky doll. As all the previous films in the same category have taught us, this is not a good idea. When will these silly people learn? Yawn.

Rating: 1 outta 5.

Burlesque

The stars of this film are Cher (looking as questionable as ever) and Christina Aguilera. Straight men should be hearing warning bells and running for the hills round about now.

Despite the hype and Golden Globe win last Sunday, this is essentially just another dance movie playing out in the background of a really long Christina Aguilera music video. Now there’s nothing wrong with this; Christina is a pretty impressive performer, and which woman and gay man doesn’t love a good burlesque routine? Just don’t expect any mind-blowing originality to equal the likes of Chicago or Moulin Rouge. If you keep your expectations around the Step Up or Coyote Ugly mark, you’ll love every minute.

Quite simply, apart from the song and dance there is nothing original, racy or even sexy about this movie. How terribly family friendly of Hollywood…

Rating: 3 outta 5.

The Next Three Days

Director Paul Haggis is the genius behind awesome films like Crash and Million Dollar Baby, so it was a bit of a shock when I discovered he was responsible for this very average action-thriller. By average I really mean neither here nor there; neither good nor bad.

Russell Crowe plays a teacher whose perfect family life is shattered when his wife is arrested for the murder of her boss. Knowing with certainty that she didn’t do it, Crowe becomes increasingly desperate when she is sentenced to 20 years in prison. So what does any loving husband do? Well, plan a prison break, of course. Yeah… A school teacher planning a prison break that even Michael Scofield would be proud of? You can see where the believability factor falls flat on its face.

Unfortunately for most of this film common sense is left at the front door. This doesn’t, however, ruin everything – you’ll still enjoy the adrenalin rush.

Rating: 3 outta 5.

Made in Dagenham

Dagenham, England, 1968: Women at the Ford Motor Company decide it’s high time they start being paid the same as their male counterparts. Egged on by their union rep, the women push Rita (Sally Hawkins) to become their reluctant spokesperson and face of the struggle, which of course comes with its own set of problems.

Rita, however, sticks to her guns and becomes the catalyst for some history-making equality. It’s a story we’re all aware of, but the film tells it with such passion and conviction that you’ll feel like you’re on the sidelines cheering the ballsy women on. A brilliant movie with a lot of heart.

Rating: 4 outta 5.