Despicable Me 3D

Director: Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud
UK release: 15 Oct 2010
US release: 9 July 2010
Starring: Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Julie Andrews, Miranda Cosgrove, Dana Gaier, Elsie Fisher, Kristen Wiig



IMDB Page

She said:

The first I knew about this film was when I was in the US this summer, where Despicable Me characters adorned the walls of every IHOP restaurant I visited. I was instantly intrigued by these bean-like yellow aliens with big grins and funny goggles and knew that this was a film that would make me 'awww' a ridiculous amount. This prediction turned out to be true.

In fact not only did I 'aww' but I also had a tear in my eye at some points and of course a LOT of laughs throughout. I know it sounds cliched but this really is a film for all the family, with enough jokes and visual gags to keep both children and adults engaged and entertained.

I am trying hard to think of what I did not enjoy and I find myself unable to fault this film. The voice acting and character development was especially well done for an animated film. I highly enjoyed Agnes who is the youngest child and by far one of the funniest animated characters of the year.

I really have not laughed this much at a film for a long time - it was almost therapeutic. Please see this film. I give it {{{5 out of 5}}}

He said:
I have seen this film three times in cinema, and I have walked out of the theatre smiling and still laughing with each viewing. I seem to find something new each time I see the film.

The first teaser trailers for this film (The silhouette of Carrel's Character Gru) did not do it justice, highlighting the least imaginative of the films vast array of individual entertaining characters.

Fans of this film will be happy to note that the uber-popular minion characters currently have an animated series already in development with Cartoon Network. If nothing else Illumination Entertainment studios has stumbled upon a cash cow with many lucrative opportunities.

This is a fun film that will definitely find itself on many DVD shelves this holiday season. I absolutely suggest this film to anyone in the need of a fun and happy family friendly film. I give it {{{4.5 out of 5}}}

They said:

This film is well paced with a great balance between comedy and heart. This is a great first feature film from Illumination Entertainment and we expect great things from them in the future. We give this film {{{9.5 out of 10}}}


QUESTION FOR THE COMMENTS: WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE EVIL-VILLAIN-WITH-A-HEART?

Get Him to the Greek (Directed by Nicholas Stoller)

The first of James' solo reviews in America:



IMDB LINK

Starring:
Jonah Hill, Russell Brand, Rose Byrne, Sean(P. Diddy)Combs,


He said:

This movie is a spin-off from Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008). Jonah Hill is in both films, but as two different characters. Kristen Bell reprises her role as Sarah Marshall in a cameo. And Russell Brand reprises the roll that introduced him to American audiences.

This film has a lot of really funny moments and is a rare exception of getting the full mileage out of what could have been a one trick pony. Russell Brand is a hilarious British comedian and excells at portraying himself.

Much like Forgetting Sarah Marshall, this film has some cringe inducing moments. I will say that this is not a film you would play for your junior high youth groups, but as long as you are alright with awkward situational comedy you will enjoy this film. I give it {{{4.0 out of 5}}}

Forgetting Sarah Marshall (Directed by Nicholas Stoller)

Starring: Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis, Russell Brand, Bill Hader, Jonah Hill, Paul Rudd

IMDB Link

He said:

This is one of those films that is so well written and timed that I really feel I can watch it over and over and still laugh at all the little jokes. In fact, I have watched this film twice in the last 9 days, and it was still amusing both times.

Jason Segel not only starred in this film he wrote it as well. This is a film that gives into temptation to go for the sight gag a little more often than I felt was absolutely necessary but the humor through out it well worth the price of admission.

One of the reason I enjoy this film as much as I do is it reminds me of the two weeks I spent in Hawaii alone a few years back. It was one of the best vacations I had ever had (before an extended vacation in England this year) but there is always the constant reminder that Hawaii should be shared with some one. I really feel that though it is subtle you feel that from the beginning.

I really enjoy this film, its definetly a film that will put a smile on your face, from start to finish I give this film 4 out of 5.

She said:

I was aphrehensive about watching this film because it not my type of comedy. I like political or black comedies or, if we go down the more slapstick route, I like British comedies. Hoever I gave it a go and to be honest I quite enjoyed it. Overall I think it was well written with a solid comedy plot line, however I did have a couple of reservations.

I felt some of the jokes weren't well timed and didn't have good follow through. For example when a joke is made about an awkward situation I feel this should sit for a minute. I find that with films in this particular genre of American comedy they have a quick succession of jokes or try to continue the humour. The characters are David Brent but without irony (don't know David Brent? Click here).

I also find with these comedies that they are written by a team of friends who deliberately write in a part for everyone. The waiter, played by Jonah Hill, should have either been cut or rewritten. His lines were not funny and the execution poor. However there was the potential for his character to be hilarious. I suspect what happened was the team realised they had yet to include a bit for him and thought "let's have a closeted homosexual waiter who fancies Russell Brand" without much more thought (Russell Brand of course playing himself).

But apart from this I did have fun watching it. Some of the funny parts - like the naked break up - I found funny but not in a laugh out loud way. So in conclusion it was fun to watch... but not my favourite comedy ever. I give this film 3.5 out of 5.


They said:
A fun film worth a viewing, it will give you a few chuckles if nothing else. We give this light-hearted comedy {{{7.5 out of10}}}

Double Feature: St. Trinian's & St. Trinian's 2: The Legend Fritton's Gold

St. Trinian's


Directed by Oliver Parker & Barnaby Thompson:
Starring: Colin Firth, Rupert Everett, Russell Brand & Talulah Riley

He said:

St Trinian's was one of those films in our Love Film (NetFlix) queue that I really had very little actual interest in. I hadn't heard anything about it good or bad. I really don't know what I expected other than that I expected it to be bad. The reason I put it in our queue in the first place was because the sequel is currently playing in cinemas across the UK at the moment. The sequel touts David "Doctor Who" Tennant as one of its leading actors. Which to be honest made me want to see it. I'll talk more on Tennant in the sequels review.

This really was a cute film, it has well timed humor and for the most part the characters are well balanced. This is a movie aimed at the demographic of school aged girls. Everyone is enjoying themselves and I would like to think it was one of those films where the cast genuinely got on together off screen as well as on. The film plays its role well, with out giving too much away, it really is just fun.

I enjoyed this movie a lot more than I thought I was going to, I give it {{{{4 out of 5 stars}}}}

She said:

In a time of political correctness being shoved down ours throats it is really refreshing to see a comedy that doesn't shy away from the risque. Like James I was apprehensive about watching this film. But after the first few minutes these nerves were left behind.

This film turns around the moral panics and issues of today's society such as underage drinking, anarchy and objectification of women in such a blatant way it becomes endearing. The film does not cater to expectations but instead provides a truly silly, light-hearted film. Perfect if you want to escape to the ridiculous.

Set in a school the film has a great opportunity to play on the current teenage stereotypes: geeks, posh totty, emos, chavs etc. The director has got these characters really spot on with a delicate balance between exaggeration and familiarity.

It is sexy. It is cute. It is funny. It has Rupert Everett in drag. Watch it... although if you are not a fan of sillyness... avoid it. I give this film <<<3 out of 5>>>

They said:

If you are looking for a fun light film this has your name written all over it... most likely in lipstick on a bathroom mirror. We give it <<<7.5 out of 10>>>

St Trinian's 2: The Legend of Fritton's Gold


Directed by: Oliver Parker & Barnaby Thompson
Starring: Rupert Everett, Colin Firth, David Tennant & Talulah Riley

He said:

St Trinian's 2 is not as well put together as it's predecessor but it does accomplish what it set out to do. The film again is aimed squarely at it's demographic (young school aged girls). I really enjoyed seeing Tennant as a villain and I felt he faired well against Everett's character. Ms Fritton has a tendency to steal the show when she is on screen and Pomphrey never appeared to be playing second fiddle.

I think that the directors lost sight of a lot of what made the first film fun and tried playing in other areas which at times seemed unnecessary and completely ridiculous. The film never went so far as to bore me, but I was less amused by certain antics than they would have preferred.

There were a couple of St Trinian's girls that I thought could have used less screen time, but over all I left the theatre with a smile on my face. Honestly in a film like this, you don't sit down expecting a BAFTA or OSCAR performance you are just hoping to be entertained which I was. I will not be surprised if we start seeing the young Talulah Riley more and more over the next few years.

St Trinian's is another fun (if not at times ridiculous) film. I give it ((((3.5 out of 5))))

She said:

Just like the first film this is ridiculous and light-hearted, but I feel, like James, that this was not quite so well put together. School-age girls will still want to be a St Trinian's sexy anarchic student and the boys will still want to date them, but there was just something missing.

The stereotypes set up in the first film were still funny (and had the edition of the green power ecos) but they were slightly off-target. The emos were more goth like... but perhaps this is because of the actress replacing Paloma Faith (now famous singer) who was emo leader in film one.

It was fun to play with the history of the Fritton (headmistress) family and their rival Pomphrey. I enjoyed the women hating Pomphrey against the girl-power Frittons but felt the message a little too obvious.

Plus the Sarah Harding character was completely pointless and this just really got my goat. If you are going to pull in audiences with a famous face lets make it a talented actress not a girl group singer with no acting skills.

Not as good as the first film but still fun to watch. I give this film <<<3 out of 5>>>

They said:

St. Trinian's is a franchise that you may just love to hate. It is so silly it become genuinely funny. We give this film <<<6.5 out of 10>>>