French film Ces’t La Vie is supposedly a comedy but works better as a study in workplace chaos. Set amid an elaborate wedding reception in the sprawling gardens of a French chateau, the film sees catering company boss and ring master Max (Jean-Pierre Bacri) desperately try to control an endless stream of disasters. Staff flirt with guests, people suffer food
Read moreAnyone familiar with the films of New Zealand director Taika Waititi will recognise his idiosyncratic style: low budget and aesthetically minimalist with extremely droll piss-taking humour, absurdist depictions of everyday life and affectionate oddball characters. This is almost the house style for his company, Piki Films and it carries through to their latest effort The Breaker-Upperers which, for about half its
Read moreThe Trip to Spain is the third in Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon’s comedy/ dramas in which they play slightly altered versions of themselves as they journey through scenic countryside reviewing up-market eateries. This time they’re imbibing the cuisine, landscape and culture of Spain as they drive from to Santander down to Malaga. Once again directed by Michael Winterbottom, this
Read moreWith amusing insights into pre-teen neurosis reminiscent of the Peanuts comics, the Diary of a Wimpy Kid films, which are based on the hit Jeff Kinney books, have been a refreshing addition to the kid/ family film landscape. They have, however, provided diminishing returns with the standard declining after the very funny first film. That slide continues with the latest
Read moreWe shouldn’t expect much from a Baywatch cinema adaptation and this film certainly lives down to expectations. Often the problem with movies based on TV shows is that the filmmakers try to stuff the TV show’s concept into a generic action comedy template and in the process lose the show’s essence and appeal. It’s the same deal here except that,
Read moreAfter the original Lego Movie became a box office behemoth there was no escaping a future filled with animated Lego figures spouting sarcastic quips. Now we have The Lego Batman Movie a cluttered, manic film stuffed with mostly superficial pop-cultural references that, while sporadically amusing, fails to live up to its predecessor. Here, Batman (voiced by Will Arnett) is having
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