4 stars****

It’s not very often that a comedy film actually has you laughing, laughing consistently throughout the film and has you laughing out loud. This was does.

This Universal Pictures comedy film directed by Nicholas Stoller was written expertly by Jason Segel. The film stars Segel, Kristen Bell, Russell Brand and Mila Kunis.

Yes, it is an adult film, or at least I hope it is. I know today’s young teenagers think they’re adults and often believe that as well, but I hope that they take time to grow up properly, like older children should and then see films like this after they’re at least sixteen.

I’m not sure how worldly wise the audience were that I saw this film with, but there was a considerable gasp when the lead actor’s privates were on show. Moments later they appeared again followed by similar gasps from behind me. Seconds later they’re here again and this time my new found gasping friends were obviously getting use to what they were seeing. Personally, I didn’t think it was necessary to show these privates three times in such short repetitions, but it made them laugh in the chairs behind me and hopefully they were laughing at the joke. I suppose it’s only fair that we see so many women naked in films, that it’s only reasonable that the guys get to take a turn. However, the film wouldn’t have been worse for cutting those unnecessary clips. We got the gag without the bits on show.

The jokes were quite adult and I expect those eleven year olds who snuck into the cinema somehow would have been wondering at some of them. They were often crude, about the subject that we most laugh at and were unswerving in their ability to bring the whole audience to full belly laughs, not just sniggers.

An excellent day at the office for all; I haven’t laughed so much in this manner since Airplane and that’s a longtime ago. So often the trailer has all the laughs in it and the rest of the 93 minutes is just waiting for those now unfunny moments.

One reason why this film scores so high is its ability to be watched again. I’m sure, like Airplane that you only get to see some of the jokes on the second or third viewing. I can’t wait.

4 stars****

I missed this at the cinema, but I wish I hadn’t. It was on my long list to see, but time beat me so it was handy winning this DVD in a movie competition.This is a brilliant mix of assassin and comedy; a blend not usually brought together so effectively.Ben Kingsley stars as the assassin with a problem – he’s an alcoholic. He goes to AA meetings and tells the assembly that he’s Frank, an alcoholic and he kills people. Only his drinking is getting in the way of his performance so his bosses have sent him for treatment so he can turn himself around and get back to the killing.

Sir Ben turns in an extremely comic role mixed with the audience’s belief that he could very well be an assassin. He’s returned to his skills from the outstanding Sexy Beast.

The second star of the show is Téa Leoni. Her role lulls you into a sense of a tough woman who accepts being the girlfriend of a paid killer far too easily – can’t she find a normal boyfriend? However, her acting skills gradually turn her around to be a loving partner, supporting Kingsley as he goes through his drinking problems, while she finally helps him on one of his murder missions.

Of course it’s too unbelievable; it’s meant to be, but underneath there’s always the sneaky feeling that it just might be based on a real story and some hearsay.

Writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely have squeezed a quality result into their 89 minutes of screenplay. They have managed several successes here; to keep the movie flowing along, no breaks for being bored and gaining sympathy with a killer, for the audience. They’ve created marvellous dialogue for those of us who haven’t yet been assassins; this is probably what we’d expect to have to say if we take up that occupation. No doubt a full time assassin can tell us with their comments on this movie review.

I’m told that the AA meetings are extremely realistic as are the hilarious scenes in the mortuary (they’re not to be missed) where Frank works. When you mix the two we see the writers have prepared their research well and turned in a very good creation.

We all know Sir Ben Kingsley’s first class acting past, however; I must source some more Téa Leoni movies as she’s punched above the level with this film so must see what else she’s completed.

Great fun in the dark side of life.

4 stars****

Jason Statham emerges in a role that appears written for him. It almost certainly wasn’t, but if you want a bank robber and/or small time criminal in London circa any year from 1965, then Jason is your man.

Yet again, another Brit movie that hits all the high notes; the Brits are certainly making quality movies these days. No gloss, no glamour, real life people and sets.

It helps to have two genius writers carve the screenplay. Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais have a dazzling track record in both television and screenplay writing. The writing is superb throughout mixing good pace with comedy in precarious circumstances.
Check out Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais at http://us.imdb.com/

This tale, which you’d think was a farce, is from a real account where a number of small time criminals get the inside information on a large bank job from a two timing (part criminal and part friend of MI5) Martine (the excellent Saffron Burrows). It appears there wasn’t a lady in this role in the real version, but this is movie world time where anything can change from factual life, a book or a documentary to suit the movie, the screenplay and the audience.

One of the real surprises is Soho porn king Lew Vogel, played by David Suchet. While David has always been an excellent actor, I always, always, imagine him as Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot. He takes this role and makes it his own and it’s the first time I forgot he was the great sleuth.

The team of villains isn’t used to such a high tech job – tunneling into a bank from a local shop – and blunder from difficulty to crisis which they solve so effortlessly. They only fold by using walkie-talkies for communication which a ham radio fan delivers to the police. Calamity doesn’t help the police though, without giving anything anyway here.

The only reason we fall short of 5 stars here is due to Malcom X’s character here supposedly from Trinidad, but using a highly polished Jamaican accent. The director should have taken the actor to Trinidad for a holiday first.

You’ll end up encouraging the ‘baddies’ who become the ‘goodies’. You’ll want them to get away with the escapade.

The ending works very well – you’ll have to go see it to check that out. It may not be manifestly believable, but as it’s based upon a real story and one that was D listed (a press blackout) by the powers that be; for a change it’s right for the circumstance.

All in all, I was very well entertained.