Film Review: Looper

Looper. Rated MA 15+ (strong violence). 118 minutes. Written and directed by Rian Johnson.

Verdict: A fascinating time-travel premise combined with a top cast results in a compelling drama about honour, integrity and responsibility.

Boasting a truly fascinating time-travel premise, a top-notch cast and a wicked (if not entirely unexpected) sting in its tale, Looper is marvellously involving cinema from the little-known Johnson (Brick). In a year where many of the cinematic offerings have been variations on well-worn themes, the threads of a heightened moral responsibility for the integrity of the lives we lead (and those of the people who rely on us for their very survival) that are woven through this film, are never less than utterly compelling.

Film Review: The Five-Year Engagement

The Five-Year Engagement. Rated MA15+ (strong sexual references and coarse language). 124 minutes. Directed by Nicholas Stoller. Written by Nicholas Stoller and Jason Segel.

Verdict: A long, verbose and laboured one-note rom-com that takes itself far too seriously.

This long, verbose and laboured one-note rom-com boasts some excellent comedy pedigree behind the scenes. Producer Judd Apatow is responsible for Bridesmaids (2011), Get Him to the Greek (2010) and Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008) to name just three. Mr Stoller directed Get Him to the Greek and Forgetting Sarah Marshall and wrote the screenplays for The Muppets (2011) and the regrettable Gulliver's Travels (2010). Surprisingly, given the team’s track-record, the extent to which this tired old affair appeals will depend entirely on how much of fan you are of the leads Jason Segel (The Muppets, Bad Teacher) and Emily Blunt (Gulliver's Travels, The Wolfman, Wild Target).

When chef Tom (Segel) and psychology PhD graduate Violet (Blunt) first meet, they both realise that they are destined to be together forever. A year later, blissfully engaged and working hard to realise their personal goals, Violet is given the opportunity to move to Michigan to further her studies and Tom reluctantly goes with her – leaving his job in a prestigious restaurant behind. As Violet’s career blossoms, Tom becomes more and more disillusioned with his new life and the impact on their relationship becomes increasingly difficult to manage.

The sense that The Five-Year Engagement is trying to be more quirky and meaningful (1994’s Four Weddings and a Funeral springs to mind) than hilarious and engaging is evident in the sombre pacing, and the fact that when the laughs eventually come, they are long overdue and barely worth the wait. The MA15+ rating is courtesy of some filthy language and some artless attempts to make the supporting characters risqué and contemporary that only succeeds in creating squirm-inducing discomfort.

Chris Pratt (Moneyball) has his moments as Tom’s nemesis and colleague Alex, while Oscar nominated Jacki Weaver (Animal Kingdom) in her first Hollywood outing since that acclaimed performance is punching well below her weight as Violet’s mother Sylvia. But if the film belongs to anyone, it’s Alison Brie’s Suzie – whose brief speech at the early engagement party sequence is the only sign of true comedic flair we get.

Film Review: Wild Target

Wild Target. Rated M (Violence and infrequent coarse language). 98 minutes. Directed by Jonathan Lynn. Screenplay by Lucinda Coxon. Based on the French film Cible émouvante (1993), written and directed by Pierre Salvadori.

As quirky, British comedies go, Wild Target is a diverting little gem – thanks mostly to the charming performances of its leads Bill Nighy, Emily Blunt and Rupert Grint who, both individually and together, light up the screen with truck-loads of charisma.

Victor Maynard (Mr Nighy) is a professional hitman who finds himself increasingly captivated by his latest target – con-woman Rose (Ms Blunt). When it becomes obvious that Victor has no intention of carrying out the ‘hit’, another hitman, Hector Dixon (Martin Freeman), is sent to do the job instead. With young stoner Tony (Mr Grint) along for the ride, Victor and Rose escape to Victor’s country estate to hide and work out how they can resolve their major life-and-death problem.

Jonathan Lynn (perhaps better known as the writer and creator of the acclaimed British television series Yes, Minister, and Yes, Prime Minister), has the good sense to leave his actors alone and they never let him down. While it occasionally feels a little too conveniently contrived, Ms Coxon’s English-language version of the French original is pretty much a case of more hits than misses, and Nighy’s perfect comedic timing is absolutely delightful to behold.

Ms Blunt (The Devil Wears Prada, the unfortunate The Wolfman, the soon-to-be-released Gulliver's Travels) is fabulous as the feisty ‘wild’ target, while Mr Grint (currently also onscreen in his continuing role as Ron Weasley in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1) is totally endearing as the orphaned young apprentice who Victor takes under his wing (to tutor, yet again) in the hope that he might one day take his place in the ‘family business’. Dame Eileen Atkins absolutely revels in her wonderfully offbeat cameo as Victor’s not-to-be-trifled-with mother, Louisa.

While Wild Target occasionally drags its heels as far as pace and action is concerned, it is a perfectly entertaining distraction from the mayhem that signifies this time of year.

This review was commissioned by the Geraldton Newspaper Group.