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22 Jump Street

What’s it about?
Remember they made a comedy movie based on that TV show, which launched Johnny Depp’s career, about undercover cops infiltrating a high school? This is the sequel paying homage to all sequels. Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum are back and they’re off to college to do “exactly the same mission” they had to do in the first movie.

What did we think?
Tom Harrison says: The movie plays to sequel tropes and works best with its self-aware humour. When it works it works but, with Hill and Tatum bickering about their friendship it quickly falls into the same rut every Judd Apatow “bro-love” styled movie seems to. The humour and pacing are solid and it’s much more enjoyable than the first outing. In the end it does what any good sequel should do, which is be bigger, funnier, and generally better than the first one.

Blended

What’s it about?
A series of highly implausible coincidences sees a widower (Adam Sandler) and his three daughters forced to share South African holiday accommodation with a divorcee (Drew Barrymore) who he went on a terrible blind date with and her two sons. Predictable hijinks and the titular “blending” of the families ensue.

What did we think?
It’s not often one thinks to use the term “poor man’s Brady Bunch” but that pretty much sums up this painfully unfunny vehicle. For some reason it seemed a good idea to pair Sandler – doing his wisecracking, sad-sack buffoon shtick yet again – with Barrymore for a third, worst outing. Racial stereotypes and way too many gender-based “jokes” abound. Best to avoid.

The Cherry Ripe I consumed during the screening was quite nice, though, so silver linings and all.
 

The Giver

Fascinating concept.

“In a seemingly perfect community, without war, pain, suffering, differences or choice, a young boy is chosen to learn from an elderly man about the true pain and pleasure of the “real” world.”

If I Stay

Wow.

I can’t wait. This looks like an interesting little gem!

Are you here

Eh… not sold…

Edge of Tomorrow

What’s it about?
A non-combat officer finds himself caught in a time loop during a war with an alien race. He combines with a special forces officer but will it be enough to save the world?

What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: Yes, it’s Groundhog Day mashed with Independence Day. And it works. With more laughs than I would have expected, the latest Tom Cruise sci-fi offering has a great balance of action, good characterisation and interesting plot. Emily Blunt is amazing and it has to be said Cruise plays the unlikeable Major/Private Cage really well. The story is well-told so the repetition doesn’t (quite) grate and you’re not actually not quite sure how it’s going to end which is a nice change.

Even anti-Tom Cruise fans should enjoy it as they at least get to watch him die a hundred or so times.

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