Burnham-On-Sea film enthusiast Molly Harding, who was recently nominated for the national award ‘Young Film Critic of the Year’, reviews the latest crop of films showing at Burnham’s Ritz Cinema in Victoria Street this week…
Gulliver’s Travels (PG)
Jack Black takes on his usual slacker ‘School of Rock’ type role as Gulliver, a seemingly prospectless person who works in a newspaper mail room. To try and win the heart of journalist Darcy he embarks on a trip to the mysterious Bermuda Triangle hoping to bag a good story and the girl of his dreams, encountering just a few small issues on his way!
All finicky criticisms aside, Gulliver’s Travels is a fab, funny, family film which is hard to fault for its entertainment value. Complete with familiar faces taking on roles as finger-sized folk, what’s not to love? Gulliver’s fake, far-fetched tales of his role in his normal sized life fool the people of Lillyput and he soon becomes the hero, much to the disgust of jealous General Edward (Chris O’Dowd, IT Crowd).
With the film’s romantic sub-plots and consistent crowd-pleasing gags I don’t think anyone going to see Gulliver’s Travels will be disappointed. How could you better spend an hour-and-a-half of your time than watching a tiny man controlling a giant robot giving Jack Black a wedgie, or grimacing in slight disgust as Gulliver extinguishes a palace fire with his own urine? No I couldn’t think of anything either, so grab your coats and get over to the Ritz straight away and watch this pocket-sized 3D picture. Big laughs, little people – 4/5 stars
Little Fockers (12A)
‘Meet the Parents’ is back with its third installment, supposedly about Pam and Greg’s young twins Henry and Samantha. But, no, this is more about the ongoing rivalry between Greg and father-in-law from hell, ex-CIA agent Jack.
There is no real need for this addition to the franchise. The whole Focker joke isn’t really that funny anymore and I think everyone was probably already satisfied with the last two hilarious helpings. Most of the film’s potentially funny parts are shown in the trailer and it’s extremely predictable all the way through. Only Owen Wilson and flirtatious pharmaceuticals rep Andy (played by Jessica Alba) manage to salvage the film some credibility. Especially Owen Wilson, as Pam’s ex successful, spiritual Kevin, who causes cracks in the Focker’s marriage. Also, the absence of Barbra Streisand and especially Dustin leave a gaping hole that could have been filled with laughs and shenanigans.
So, maybe I am being a little harsh, but I just expected more and personally felt let down by the overall predictability and generally disappointing happenings of ‘Little Fockers’. Sorry, but it’s only 2.5/5 from me.
Read more of Molly’s regular film reviews on Burnham-On-Sea.com
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