Pixels

UK Release Date: 12th August 2015

When aliens misinterpret video feeds of classic arcade games as a declaration of war, they attack the Earth in the form of the video games (www.imdb.com).

Director: Chris Columbus (Home Alone, Mrs. Doubtfire, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone)

Starring: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Michelle Monaghan, Peter Dinklage, Josh Gad, Brian Cox, Sean Bean

The least convincing aspect of Pixels is Kevin James as President of the United States. Did someone vote for Paul Blart, who thought this was a good idea? Sandler's his dorky friend whose stuck in his old, gaming hay-days. In the late 80's he was a gaming phenomenon, but was out-championed by a cocky kid (later played by the almighty Peter Dinklage). Nowadays, he's a wash out, with no real aim in life. Lucky for him then, that aliens start attacking earth in the form of video games. Video feeds of retro arcade games were sent in to outer space as a peace offering, not a admission of war. Sandler, his geeky friend Josh Gad and nemesis Peter Dinklage are the ones leading the defence. Just as unconvincing is the world relying on three gaming wizards. The acting hits all sorts of levels from mediocre (Sandler), to good (Dinklage, Monaghan), to over the top (Gad). Pixels is a lavish, easy to look at yet underwhelming comedy that's only appealing to gamers. At least we get to see Pac-Man and Donkey Kong on the big screen.

2.5/5

Cake

UK Release Date: 20th February 2015

Claire becomes fascinated by the suicide of a woman in her chronic pain support group while grappling with her own, very raw personal tragedy (www.imdb.com).

Director: Daniel Barnz (Beastly, Won't Back Down)

Cast: Jennifer Aniston, Adriana Barraza, Felicity Huffman, William H. Macy, Anna Kendrick, Sam Worthington 

Cake is far from sweet. Jennifer Aniston, by odd circumstances, gives, doesn't bake... gives a cake to the son of a widow she's become infatuated with. Awkward, as it's the widow of one of Aniston's support group friends. Claire's (Aniston) pain isn't fully realised, only hinted at. It becomes clearer as the film progresses. Claire is Aniston's most vivid, layered character, deserving awards galore. Troubled by pain, dosed up with drugs to the eyeballs, bearing insufficient regard for the feelings of those around her, particularly Silvana (Barraza), her minder. Cake is full of pain and sorrow. Claire's a character stuck in limbo, a mix of sympathy and apathy. One undignified moment sees her pretending to be the previous owner of the widow's (Worthington) house, to get an idea of why her friend Nina (Kendrick), committed suicide. The odd feelings in this scene are felt throughout. Morbidly crisp.

4/5

Happy Gilmore

UK Release Date: 19th July 1996

A rejected hockey player puts his skills to the golf course to save his grandmother's house (www.imdb.com).

Director: Dennis Dugan (Big Daddy, Grown Ups, Jack & Jill)

Cast: Adam Sandler, Christopher McDonald, Julie Bowen, Carl Weathers

The earlier Adam Sandler films, are the best. All Sandler films are harmless enough. The early ones are comical, joyful and unrealistic. This comedy ticks all those boxes. Happy Gilmore (Sandler) is a terrible hockey player with a mean swing and serious anger issues. Taking up golf under the wing of an expert (Carl Weathers), Happy smashes his way through tournaments to raise money and save his grandmother's house. Current golfing champion Shooter McGavin (Christopher McDonald), hating the media attention Happy's receiving, plans to cut his golfing time short. Sandler's on top, ridiculous form, his anger delivers the hardest laughs. Happy Gilmore's story produces that comic edge with its unbelievable, can-do attitude, like a script originally for an animation. The comedy heavily outweighs the plot. Happy Gilmore is easy-going. 

3.5/5

While We're Young

UK Release Date: 3rd April 2015

A middle-aged couple's career and marriage are overturned when a disarming young couple enters their lives (www.imdb.com).

Director: Noah Baumbach (Greenberg, Frances Ha)

Cast: Ben Stiller, Naomi Watts, Adam Driver, Amanda Seyfried

While We're Young mixes an older generation of folks with a new generation of folks. Josh (Stiller) and Cornelia (Watts) are a couple in their 40's who become enchanted by a free-spirited couple nearly half their age. Jamie (Driver) and Darby (Seyfried) bring out the best (and the worst) in them. They experience things they never considered before, at the expense of their other, maturer friends. There's more to the younger couple than meets the eye, which is painstaking, as it strings us along until it becomes unbearable to watch. Stiller and Watts are tremendous, stuck only by the odd story and its conclusion. Driver and Seyfried are bothersome from the start. While We're Young is about accepting the aging process. We can do anything we put our minds on. 

3/5

Hot Pursuit

UK Release Date: 31st July 2015

An uptight and by-the-book cop tries to protect the outgoing widow of a drug boss as they race through Texas pursued by crooked cops and murderous gunmen (www.imdb.com).

Director: Anne Fletcher (Step Up, The Proposal, Guilt Trip)

Cast: Reese Witherspoon, Sofia Vergara

It's remarkable to see Reese Witherspoon dish out the mediocre performance. It's not wholly her fault. Hot Pursuit is similar to Paul Feig films (The Heat, Spy), but without the punch. Witherspoon and Vergara fly well together. It's an instant connection. The things they do, the words they say, though, are a shambles. Situations occur that are unrealistic. Witherspoon is a by-the-book cop. Her job is to protect a dead drug lord's wife (Vergara) from bad people. Simple, yet ineffective. Witherspoon isn't believable in her role. Vergara fits in hers perfectly. Witherspoon struggles to contain the uncontrollable widow. A few jokes arise amongst the dead ones, conducted by a weak script and poorly executed set-pieces. The lead duo acting as a deer just about sums up the mood of Hot Pursuit.

2/5

Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation

UK Release Date: 30th July 2015

Ethan and team take on their most impossible mission yet, eradicating the Syndicate - an International rogue organization as highly skilled as they are, committed to destroying the IMF (www.imdb.com).

Director: Christopher McQuarrie (Jack Reacher)

Cast: Tom Cruise, Simon Pegg, Jeremy Renner, Rebecca Ferguson, Ving Rhames, Sean Harris, Alec Baldwin

Rogue Nation pushes all the right buttons. It's exactly what's wanted from the MI franchise, and never tries to surpass that fulfillment. Tom Cruise is leaner and fitter than he's ever been, running faster than the speed of light and performing impressive stunts that top Ghost Protocol. SPOILER, the infamous plane scene smashes us in the face before the title credits roll. The IMF (Impossible Mission Force) has been disbanded by the CIA, forcing Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) on the run. Rogue Nation's a double cat and mouse game, with the CIA searching for Hunt, and Hunt searching for the secret organisation: the Syndicate. The plot's topsy turvy, simple to follow but almost, just almost, pointless. The Syndicate, led by Sean Harris' Solomon Lane, is hell bent on taking out the IMF, or rather, Ethan Hunt, because the CIA already took care of that. Brushing this aside entirely, RN is a blast. It's villain is undercast, but the rest of the compliment Cruise. Simon Pegg is back for another round of wit as the tech-guy, used on the field even more this time. New girl Rebecca Ferguson kicks ass, given more to do than Renner and Baldwin put together. The fifth film in the franchise ticks all the right boxes; great, fast-paced action, high speed chases, novelty gadgets and nerve-wracking stunts. Evennn the face masks make a comeback. Let's hope that Jack Reacher director Christopher McQuarrie handles the next excursion. 

4/5