True Grit, There's Something About Mary, Dead Poet's Society

#1 - TRUE GRIT (2011)

Stars - Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Hailee Steinfeld, Josh Brolin

Director - Ethan & Joel Coen

Memorable Quote - 'Mister Cogburn, in your four years as a US Marshal, how many men have you shot?'

Review - I've not got around to seeing the original yet, though a review will follow at some point. This, however, is what can only be described as a masterpiece. Westerns in the 21st century are few and far between, and while some are brilliant, others fall short of the mark. This, however, is the best I've seen yet. Bridges is magnificent as the gruff old marshal who really truly cares for the runaway child who forces herself into his care, and Damon puts in a performance that will put his critics to shame. Steinfeld is eye-catching and convincing, able to challenge the already well-established actors on her own ground. Cinematography, direction, all of it is perfect, and it's enjoyable in all ways. The only flaw comes towards the end, as poor greenscreen work fails to match the background with the action of Rooster and Mattie riding. If only they had just bothered a tiny bit more, this would have been an easy 5 rating. 4.5/5

#2 - THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY

Stars - Cameron Diaz, Ben Stiller, Matt Dillon, Lee Evans, Chris Elliott

Director - Farrelly brothers

Memorable Quote - 'Frank and Beans! Frank and Beans!'

Review - From the moment that the film kicks off with a little spoof song about Mary, performed by Jonathan Richman(a repeated theme throughout), and Ben Stiller's re-teenaged face appears, you know that this is going to turn out to be a pretty damn funny film. Despite the annoying, slightly passe fake dog fighting scenes, the story is both cutesy and hilarious, as Ted fights to win back the love of his life, Mary, battling against fake architects and cripples and hives-suffering stalkers. Some of it is silly, yes, some of it highly unrealistic; but some of it, such as Ted winning the trust of Warren and his declarations of love, verges on the heart-warming. Stiller has come to be known as an actor that can provide world-class comedy performances no matter where he crops up, and this is no exception. See it now - it will brighten your day. 4.5/5

#3 - DEAD POET'S SOCIETY

Stars - Robin Williams, Ethan Hawke, Robert Sean Leonard, et al

Director - Peter Weir

Memorable Quote - 'Carpe diem, seize the day boys, make your lives extraordinary.'

Review - This is something that really ought to be seen by everyone, just because it's a beautiful film. Just about every single line is quotable, and the storyline itself is uplifting. Following a group of boys in a stuffy all-boys' school, their lives are changed with the arrival of a teacher whose methods encourage them to think for themselves instead of letting their lives pass by uneventfully. Recreating an old secret society sets into action a chain of events that will have you laughing along with them - until one of the boys is forced to make the choice between his dream and his father's wishes, and finds himself unable to do so. Although the conclusion is tragic, and the aftermath brings up some uncomfortable questions about guilt and conformity, one boy's final act of defiance will have you cheering until the credits. What more can I say? See it for yourself - you won't be disappointed. 5/5

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From Hell, Planet Terror, The Ghost Writer

#1 - FROM HELL

Stars - Johnny Depp, Heather Graham, Ian Holm, Robbie Coltrane

Director - Albert Hughes, Allen Hughes

Memorable Quote - '"From Hell". Well at least they got the address right.'

Review - This is a rewatch, and quite an enjoyable one. A side-note here is that if you're ever in London with nothing planned, you should definitely check out one of the 'Jack the Ripper' walking tours, they are excellent. If you're lucky in your choice of guide, they are also hilarious. Then, when you've been on one of those, watch this movie, and it will all unfold like a prophetic vision! All of that aside, I don't think it's possible to find a bad Johnny Depp film these days, so you probably already know what kind of a verdict this will get from the cast list. It takes a neat twist on the tale by following the inspector rather than the Ripper himself, and while it does give an explanation we know that this is only conjecture. The rather romantic ending - with Kelley's disappearance rather than death - is, sadly, complete fabrication, though it does make a nice ending, doesn't it? And in the land of film, that's all that matters. Good effects, just enough gore, nice script and a beautifully created atmosphere: suitable for all fans of the murder mystery and/or Johnny Depp. 4/5

#2 - PLANET TERROR

Stars - Rose McGowan, Freddy Rodriguez, Josh Brolin, Marley Shelton, Bruce Willis, Naveen Andrews, Stacey Ferguson

Director - Robert Rodriguez,

Memorable Quote - 'It's go go, not cry cry.'

Review - First off, I haven't seen 'Death Proof' yet, which is why this is not a double review feature. Possibly some of the effect is lost when you don't see them together, but that's something I won't be able to comment on until a later date. Taking it as a film in it's own right, this is probably one for the nerds. If things like a 'missing reel' in the middle of the action, scratchy effects all over the screen, and distortion of the images sounds appealing to you, go watch this immediately, because you'll love it. It's funny, sometimes almost kitsch, and entertaining throughout. 'Ugly Betty' fans might be a little bemused by the appearance of sandwich guy Gio appearing as an epic badass who manages to achieve a kill count of at least fifty as well as impregnating a one-legged go-go dancer in one hit, though he takes to the role well; McGowan is edgily sympathetic, and Shelton can't help but make you think of Uma Thurman in 'Kill Bill'. With all the hallmarks of a Tarantino/Rodriguez flick, I think it's worth giving it a shot if you liked movies by either director in the past - it's unlikely to disappoint in the entertainmanet stakes. 4/5

#3 - THE GHOST WRITER

Stars - Ewan McGregor, Pierce Brosnan, Kim Cattrall, Olivia Williams

Director - Roman Polanski

Memorable Quote - 'If we meet any terrorists, I'll text you.'

Review - Why should you watch 'The Ghost Writer'? Ewan McGregor. The storyline probably won't do it for you. The script is quietly very witty, but that might not be enough to move you either. Pierce Brosnan has never, let's face it, been very good, and he plays the Prime Minister much like he would play, oh, say, a spy. That is, in a one-dimensional manner. Which is fine, because he isn't the focus of the storyline - McGregor is. You can't help but care about whether or not he's going to be pushed off a boat somewhere, and after a while you even forget that his American accent is not the most convincing of jobs (hell, it's better than Sean Bean's, and he plays Americans all the damn time). The directing is good, but so subtle that you might not notice how good; the locations are fantastic; the whole thing is doused in a kind of unease that is just right for a thriller. Either you'll leap right in and it will entertain you, or you'll sit back and it won't. You'll have to work for it, though - this isn't the kind of film that will grab you in, you have to make the first move. My advice? Make it, or you'll be wasting a couple of hours of your life. 2.5/5

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The King's Speech, Burn After Reading, Demolition Man

#1 - THE KING'S SPEECH

Stars - Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter, Geoffrey Rush

Director - Tom Hooper

Memorable Quote - 'In this grave hour fuck fuck fuck perhaps the most fateful in our history bugger shit shit.'

Review - Alright, i'll say this for it: there is a lot of good acting in 'The King's Speech'. Colin Firth really did put a lot of effort into it, and those in the know think he made a very accurate representation of the real king. Helena Bonham Carter manages to look and act like a real human being for once, and it is sort of amusing to think of the Queen being a young child with her father suddenly ruling the country. It's a history lesson for those who don't know much about the recent history of the monarchy, and education is never a bad thing. However, all of these good factors don't stop it from being mind-crushingly boring. To be honest I blame the subject: royalty or no royalty, it is essentially just the story of a man going to speech therapy to cure his stutter, and not in fact managing to completely rid himself of it. No battles, no wild love story, not even a conspiracy... It's more boring than that one about the actual Queen, and I can't even remember what happened in that. Good for him, he managed to say some stuff, but he can keep it all in his own private time, thanks. 3/5

#2 - BURN AFTER READING

Stars - Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Frances McDormand, John Malkovich, Tilda Swinton, Richard Jenkins, J.K. Simmons

Director - Ethan Coen, Joel Coen

Memorable Quote - 'Appearances can be... deceptive.'

Review - There are many, many, many good things I can say about this movie. I love the script. I love the casting. I love the setting, the costumes, the camerawork. I love the plot. Just about the only thing I don't love about it is watching Brad Pitt get shot in his perfectly formed and hilariously dumb face, because it means he won't be making me laugh for the remaining time. His character is so fantastically silly that he's adorable, and it's particularly amusing to see a 'straight' actor making such a fool of himself on purpose. This is one of the best Clooney performances I've seen, and the same is true for at least half the cast. I actually can't think of anything I can truly criticise, which is why I chose to expand on my original three word review from a couple of years back. Every plot twist, though ridiculous when viewed without a backstory, makes perfect sense in context, creating a kind of beautiful madness that will probably have you sympathising with the authorities towards the end. If you have not seen this film, I only have one piece of advice for you: do so. Now. 5/5

#3 - DEMOLITION MAN

Stars - Sylvester Stallone, Wesley Snipes, Sandra Bullock, Nigel Hawthorne

Director - Marco Brambilla

Memorable Quote - 'You're gonna regret this the rest of your life... both seconds of it.'

Review - 'Demolition Man' starts out hilariously. As Snipes and Stallone exchange words you can almost see the script passing across their eyes. Other supporting members are not much higher in the acting stakes, and what follows are some shots of parts of Stallone I have never wanted to see. Increasing the ickyness levels is the fact that certain parts of him have been smoothed out of the picture, turning him into some kind of genderless futuristic freakshow suspended in one of Lady Gaga's props. Or maybe she's in one of his, given the chronology. Anyway, bizarre attempts at futurising everything (swirly high five, anyone?) are humorous rather than convincing, and technology made up in the past never matches up to what we perceive now to be possible. It does improve as time goes on into an amusing tale of society adjusting to a man from the past, rather than a man adjusting to the future, which is interesting. As the times passes Stallone and Snipes seem to act better, though Snipes never loses the aura of a try-hard. The verbal morality fines continue to dominate the background enough that they actually feel like an in-joke, and that's probably the better-done element of the futurism. Special effects increase in quality, and the conclusion of their enmity is actually hilariously bloody. It's a good action romp, and worth a night in for sure. 3.5/5/5

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Taxi, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1

#1 - TAXI

Stars - Queen Latifah, Jimmy Fallon, Jennifer Esposito, Gisele Bündchen

Director - Tim Story

Memorable Quote - 'Every hero has a weakness. Superman has kryptonite. Indiana Jones has snakes. Whitney Houston has Bobby Brown... or vice-versa...'

Review - This film is a bit of a laugh. It's certainly not serious at all - more akin to NL's LW, below, than a real cop movie. There is a long-established trend of this kind of "wacky" humour, which does not mean it's good or mean that it's bad. Struggling, clumsy cop Fallon could not solve a crime if it fell on him, but when Queen Latifah lets him drive around in her taxi it all suddenly starts going fine for him. He's romantically interested in his superior, who apparently hates him, and he's after some sexy Portuguese bank robbers. If that's not enough wackiness for you, his mother is also a raging alcoholic who he still lives next door to. The acting is at the goofball level that you would expect, and the special effects are ridiculous, but the chase scenes are, I suppose, quite good. The concept itself is a little bit stupid and a whole lot random, but then this is a comedy. Average at best, it certainly won't be everyone's cup of tea. 2/5

#2 - FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF

Stars - Matthew Broderick, Allan Ruck, Mia Sara, Jeffrey Jones, Jennifer Grey

Director - John Hughes

Memorable Quote - 'Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.'

Review - There's a reason that Ferris Bueller has become a household name, the punchline of a thousand jokes, the pop culture reference on a thousand lips. That reason is the sheer quality of the film. Still funny after years have passed, it represents the ultimate fantasy of any high school kid - get out of school for a day and spend it having the most awesome adventures you can think off, all without ever getting caught or facing any consequences for your actions. A coming-of-age story as well as a comedy, it follows the irrepressible Ferris, his girlfriend who follows him devotedly, and his best friend whose family issues finally tip him over the edge. Ferris' sister is Baby from 'Dirty Dancing' (not just the same actress, actually the same character), and his principal is a lunatic obsessed with bringing him to justice. The entire film is enjoyable for the sheer factor of experiencing all those things along with them - all the things they get away with, and even some things that they don't. Ferris Bueller is a must-watch for every teenager, everyone in their twenties, everyone who has ever been to school... you can't possibly not enjoy it. 5/5

#3 - NATIONAL LAMPOON'S LOADED WEAPON 1

Stars - Samuel L Jackson, Emilio Estevez, Kathy Ireland, Tim Curry, William Shatner

Director - Gene Quintano

Memorable Quote - ' I guess we're making somebody nervous. But I'll tell you this: It's gonna take a helluva lot more than a couple of car bombs to get us off of this case.'

Review - This film is kind of crazy; but then I suppose you might have guessed that when you saw the first half of the title. It's nothing short of genius to see those who we usually think of as 'serious' actors parodying themselves and the roles of other A-Listers. Estevez and Jackson are brilliant throughout, portraying their characters just as they should, and allowing the humour to creep through in the jokes rather by giving a deliberately bad performance. From the opening scene, as Estevez stamps out a cigarette, followed by a cigar, followed by a pipe, you know the laughs are going to be as obvious as they are bizarre. Watching the background is often rewarding - you'll see an e-fit of Mr Potato Head being produced, followed by the arrest of a man with the exact same head. Though the twists and turns of the plot may be ridiculous, it's light hearted and funny, something that could cheer you up after a hard day's work of a Friday. 4/5

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Tamara Drewe, Brassed Off, Game of Thrones

#1 - TAMARA DREWE

Stars - Tamsin Greig, Gemma Arterton, Dominic Cooper, Luke Evans, Jessica Barden

Director - Stephen Frears

Memorable Quote - 'Why does the asshole always get the girl?'

Review - Tamara Drewe is a young journalist who, since leaving her sleepy hometown, has had a nose job and flourished into a new woman, much to the surprise of her former flame Andy, the philandering writer who turned her down, and all those who knew her. Negotiating a slippery slope between new toy Ben, whose good looks hide a selfish and childish personality, writer Nicholas whose wife is on her last straw, and gardening Andy who can't admit his real feelings for her. Arterton is a good actress but she seems only interested in ditzy or uninteresting roles, as here; Greig provides the strongest character, and in fact her plotline is far more interesting than the love triangle described above. As she tries hard not to break down in the wake of her husband's affairs, she eventually falls instead for an American writer staying at their writer's retreat - which happens to be one of the best money-making ideas I've heard in a while. The value in this film comes from the effort put in - making up songs for drummer Ben's band to play and sing in, performed well by Cooper with his heavily underlined eyes, is a clear example; the character of Jody, while a little melodramatic in terms of the script and plot, is nevertheless played well by Barden, and in all it's not too painful to watch. In parts you might even call it enjoyable. 3/5

#2 - BRASSED OFF

Stars - Pete Poselthwaite, Ewan McGregor, Tara Fitzgerald, Stephen Tompkinson

Director - Mark Herman

Memorable Quote - 'How the hell do you die happy?'

Review - 'Brassed Off' is a little dated in its feel, particularly given that it is rooted very firmly in a certain timescale. It certainly isn't the only movie made about the miner's strikes, and not the only one about a band, but probably the only one that combines the two. Poselthwaite is heartwarming as the ill old man who depends on the brass band to give him a reason to live, while his son's life falls apart. Tompkinson is not the best of actors, and even Ewan McGregor's shabby accent fades away now and then - it's like half of the cast keep forgetting they're supposed to be up North. The few political messages scattered clearly throughout the film are a little too obvious, though it does have its humorous moments and a few good lines. I suppose it was a creature of it's time, and although it has not lasted well, there are a lot of well-known English actors involved and it stands as a testament to the feeling at the time and the personal struggles of those going through redundancy. I won't bother watching it again, but it filled up a bit of time when nothing else was on television. 2.5/5

#3 - GAME OF THRONES SEASON 1

Stars - Sean Bean, Lena Headey, Emilia Clarke, Peter Dinklage, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Kit Harington, Mark Addy, Harry Lloyd

Director - Daniel Minahan et al

Memorable Quote - 'Winter is coming'

Review - I'm reviewing this television show mostly because I am a huge fan of the book series, and because, despite the fact that it finished a while ago now, it's still generating a lot of buzz. What was so great about it? Well, for a start, it managed to capture the epic feel of George R R Martin's fantasy world without drifting into the ridiculous, and sticks very closely to the books - even taking many lines directly from the book. The casting decisions made were excellent: Jaime, Ned, Tyrion, Cersei, Joffrey, Daenerys were all perfect. There were flaws with other characters: Catelyn was not the right look, neither was Sansa - they were supposed to both be very pretty and also resemble each other closely, hence why everyone seemed inexplicably to be in love with them. Renly, too, was neither handsome nor charming enough. It's also true that a lot of racy scenes were added just for viewer appeal, something that appears to be a trend in the US at the moment which I don't feel translates properly over here: it becomes a joke that everyone is walking around naked constantly, rather than something you can take seriously. I also don't think it was necessary. The drama of the story itself, the settings and the special effects, should have been enough to carry it through. Yes, there were some explicit scenes in the book, but I saw many more in the show. Also, some things could not possibly be represented, which is a shame - a lot of story arcs were longer and contained much internal torment in the book, which of course cannot be shown on the screen. Tyrion's stay in the sky cells is an excellent example of this. A good effort has been made to stay as faithful to the books as possible, however, which I applaud, as it would have been so easy to present a highly simplified version. It certainly isn't possible to show every single character just yet, as we've seen from the fact that Tommen appears to be invisible and Rickon only popped up when it became convenient. I eagerly await the second series - with the way events unfold in the books, if they carry on as they have, it should be something to really look forward to. 5/5

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The A-Team, The Hangover, Un Prophete

#1 - THE A-TEAM

Stars - Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Jessica Biel, Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson, Sharlto Copley, Patrick Wilson

Director - Joe Carnahan

Memorable Quote - 'I love it when a plan comes together.'

Review - I've never experienced the original in 'A-Team' in any capacity beyond that of a certain chocolate bar advertising campaign, so this is in no way going to be a comparative review. The first part of the film had me annoying those who knew the original with endless questions: who are the A-Team? What is their actual job? Under whose authority do they act? I never really got any satisfactory answers to those questions, but getting swept away into the action shut me up about it for a while. Said action does perhaps seem a little disjointed at times, swimming from one scene to another with little connection, or a cinematic choice that alienated me a bit. The actors themselves - Cooper, Neeson, Jackson, and Copley - do a good job at combining action with humour, although there isn't much time to really get acquainted with them. Cooper and Copley are arguably the strongest, and it's clear that Cooper is only at the start of what may become a very long career, though Neeson lacked impact. The storyline is so-so; at the end of the day I can't bring myself to care much, but maybe it's just because I tend to switch off when things get overly action-y. 3.5/5

#2 - THE HANGOVER

Stars - Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms, Justin Bartha, Mike Tyson

Director - Todd Phillips

Memorable Quote - 'Like you said - we all do dumb shit when we're fucked up.'

Review - What a hoot! Anyone who might avoid this film with the idea that it might be lowbrow or full of toilet humour should change their minds. 'Funny' is an understatement - every twist and turn of this tale brings a new shade of humour, as three friends try to remember where they left the groom before the wedding starts.  From the ridiculous to the even more ludicrous, stolen tigers lead us to a Mike Tyson singalong and casino winnings buy a drug dealer from a Chinese gang boss (who, incidentally, delivers some of the funniest lines I've heard in a long time). Cooper makes his second appearance of this blog in a well-played role, though perhaps a little similar to that of his 'A-Team' run. Galifianakis is arguably the star thanks to his overall comic potential, though he is exactly the sort of guy you wouldn't want hanging around in real life. The whole thing plays a little like a Pepsi Max advert, but is no less enjoyable for it. It is almost a mystery-comedy as we try to work out what on earth could have happened, and the investigation is executed well. Definitely worth a watch - laughter is good for the heart. 4/5

#3 - UN PROPHETE

Stars - Tahar Rahim, Niels Arestrup

Director - Jacques Audiard

Memorable Quote - n/a

Review - Well, this is gripping. Following the tale of a good-for-nothing young lad who finds himself in jail at the age of nineteen, and facing a six year sentence, we begin with a feeling of sympathy. Claiming he is innocent, he starts what can only be a horrible time in a concrete cell, with the least of comforts, getting beaten and having his shoes stolen. It all changes when the Corsicans in control of the prison force him to murder another man, and although he is clearly reluctant, he has no choice but to go through with it. Watching his transformation, the clearest view of his internal thoughts is written all over his face in private moments - Rahim is brilliant in this, giving us such a strong indication of what is going through his head without needing to open his mouth. As he goes from strength to strength the roles change - we feel sympathy for the Corsican instead, toppled from his throne by the young pretender. There is little chance to feel disgusted or alienated from Malik - he is hard working and intelligent, first learning how to read and then teaching himself a new language by reading a dictionary, he is also cunning and fair: although he carries out all the Corsican jobs until the finale with loyalty and efficiency, he also carries on his own practices to rise high in the criminal underworld. Compelling, gripping, and driving, this film is a deserving winner of many awards. Full of tiny touches (such as Malik automatically sticking out his tongue in the airport), you won't regret giving this one a try. 5/5

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The Tourist, The Brothers Bloom, Morning Glory

#1 - THE TOURIST

Stars - Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie, Paul Bettany, Rufus Sewell, Timothy Dalton

Director - Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck

Memorable Quote - ' 20 million dollars worth of plastic surgery. And that's the face you choose.'

Review - 'The Tourist' is full of twists and turns that will lead you on a merry dance across Venice, as Angelina Jolie's sometime criminal's moll selects a random man to pretend to be the criminal himself to fool the world's intelligence agencies, only to find more than she bargained for in her tourist. Of course, it's only natural that any woman would choose Johnny Depp when presented with a train full of gentlemen to pick from, though he does at last begin to show what seem to be a few real signs of aging. The bags under his eyes, whether real or fabricated in make up, are a tiny bit off-putting, though his acting skills remain the same. He convinces entirely as the American teacher out on a trip to Venice to pretend his life isn't dull and empty, until of course he seems to know a few too many tricks and we at last guess the truth. Jolie sparkles as the rich, beautiful enchantress she was made to play, a welcome break from her insistence on the 'gritty' roles. Running through it all and pulling the plot together is Paul Bettany, doing a wonderful job of giving us something to read between his lines, putting undertones to his English Gent exterior. The movie is so A-List that poor old Rufus Sewell only managed to get a cameo in, which should give you some indication of the quality. Although the cleverness of the plot might have been punchier with a different director or target audience - the French, for one, might have handled it better - the Hollywood watering-down is not so severe that it ruins things. 4/5

#2 - THE BROTHERS BLOOM

Stars - Adrien Brody, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel Weisz, Rinko Kikuchi, Robbie Coltrane

Director - Rian Johnson

Memorable Quote - 'The trick to not feeling cheated is to learn how to cheat.'

Review - Why on earth are everyone and their mother hating on 'The Brothers Bloom'? I'm going to put myself out on a limb and say that I actually really enjoyed it. Brody presents himself with the kind of lovable charm he's always been good at, somehow making a cowardly, tired conman underdog into a sympathetic character. The plot is fairly straightforward in terms of what actually happens, but the challenge is to work out what's really going on in each scene - Bloom, Bang Bang, and particularly Stephen spin a web of deceit to the point that even they are sometimes unaware of the truth. The scene in which Stephen pretends to be pretending only for Bloom to later realise he was not (if you've seen it, you'll know) is the most touching of the movie, and possibly the best-done. Bang Bang is a brilliant supporting character, providing a touch of humour and a lot of quirkiness - and her expressions often tell a hundred jokes all by themselves. If I ever need to blow anything up, I will now make sure it's a dinosaur with a Barbie's head. Weisz also builds her part well, though I suppose I'm not sure how someone quite that eccentric would act, and all in all I think the cast did their best. I struggle to find a reason to hate this film: it's no masterpiece, but then neither is it One Magic Christmas, so thank heavens for small mercies. 3.5/5

#3 - MORNING GLORY

Stars - Rachel MacAdams, Harrison Ford, Patrick Wilson, Jeff Goldblum, Diane Keaton

Director - Roger Michell

Memorable Quote - 'I'm not saying the word fluffy!'

Review - Rachel MacAdams seems to be carving a niche for herself in Hollywood. She's the career girl, smart but flawed in some way (naive in 'Up', clumsy here). She's able to charm the older skeptic - Harrison Ford in this case - and ultimately save the day. It may be starting to feel a bit formulaic, but here it works - the film is hilarious at times, funny at others, and produces a smile even in its lowest points. The general story is heartwarming, particularly as Ford gives us a multifaceted character, part grumpy old man and part passionate news reporter, finally swallowing his pride in the build-up to the conclusion. The love story between MacAdams' character and Wilson's is dealt with well in that it does not take over the main arc, instead giving us a full picture of her life that adds to the appeal rather than taking it away. Rather than just another trashy romcom, this is well-made and entertaining, giving you a real sense of a journey throughout. Though it is not exactly highbrow, there's nothing wrong with a bit of light entertainment. 3.5/5

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