Glenn Ficarra and John Requa’s previous film, I Love You Phillip Morris, was one of the funniest and most moving romantic dramedy’s of the past few years, but went tragically underseen because it focused on a gay love story. Their follow up is a similarly heartfelt, but decidedly broader and more mainstream affair entitled Crazy, Stupid, Love. Juggling multiple love stories – not always successfully – is a film that [...]

As the title implies, Dinner for Schmucks is a film that asks us to spend 114 minutes in the company of people we don’t particularly like. Because really, that’s the definition of a schmuck; people who irritate us, frustrate us and whose mere presence makes us wish were somewhere, anywhere else.

And hey, if that’s the kind of experience director Jay Roach (Austin Powers, Meet the Parents) [...]

Sometimes in cinema, we see a movie that can’t really be criticised without sounding as if we expect everything to be a masterpiece. Sometimes a film will exhibit obnoxious, uninspired, lazy or subjectively displeasing elements that we can confidently criticise and openly disapprove of. However, if your biggest criticism of the picture is: “it’s no Citizen Kane” or “it’s no Shawshank Redemption”, you truly have nothing substantial to dislike. For me, this situation applies to Despicable Me; the latest computer generated family adventure.

Marriage for many is a test that often ends up a bumpy ride. Rekindling the weakening spark usually requires significant effort, and many are lazy in their attempt; for fear of change – to routine, or as people. In Date Night it seems two of Hollywood’s funniest people aren’t exempt. If Steve Carell and Tina Fey are reliant on the titular concept to keep the sunshine and lollipops in their (fictional) relationship, then what hope have the rest of us got? The film suggests not much – their bumpy ride is extreme and brings only the slightest source of comfort.