Summary Review:
The Dilemma is an awkward comedy with moral and ethical undertones about what to do with secrets you were never meant to know.

Synopsis:
Ronny (Vince Vaughan) is a fun-loving guy who can never take anything seriously. That is until he sees his best friend’s wife (Winona Ryder) kissing another man.

Now Ronny is faced with the dilemma of either keeping the secret and letting the affair continue that will destroy his friend, Nick (Kevin James) or telling Nick and being the bearer of bad news.

The Dilemma has a very interesting premise, but the film makers don’t seem to know how to conclude this story.

The unusual pairing of comedians Vaughan and James with serious actresses like Ryder and Jennifer Connelly adds to the movie’s off-kilter tone and awkward pace.

It seems the makers of The Dilemma couldn’t bring their ideas to life as they’d imagined and there will be many moments in the cinema where you’ll sit there feeling awkward and wondering what’s just funny and what’s sarcastic.

Director: Ron Howard Screenplay: Allan Loeb Cast: Vince Vaughan, Kevin James, Winona Ryder, Jennifer Connelly Time: 118min Age Restriction: 13SLV

Genre:
Comedy

Summary Review:
Easy A is a smart and witty film about high school rumours, starring a talented cast that will have you rolling in your seat with laughter.

Synopsis:
Olive Penderghast (Emma Stone) is just another average high school girl who never gets noticed.

One day she makes up a date with a fictional college freshman, in order to get out of a weekend away with Rhiannon, her annoying best friend, and Rhiannon’s weird family.

The next week, when sharing stories about their weekend, Rhiannon gets the impression that Olive lost her virginity.

As high school rumours tend to do, the story spreads like wildfire and suddenly Olive is the centre of attention – especially amongst the guys.

One “harmless” lie leads to another and soon Olive is known as the high school tramp, with no clear way of redeeming her good name.

It sets wrong examples for everything from gossiping to parenting, but I loved Easy A for its fast humour, its unexpected sensitive moments and its exaggerated insight into the high school world.

Easy A has a stellar cast of seasoned actors, mostly known for their comedic flair. Emma Stone is hilarious, engaging and H.O.T. as the down-to-earth Olive. Her high school nemesis, a Bible-bashing pastor’s daughter, is played with typical verocity by Amanda Bynes and the adult cast includes Stanley Tucci, as well as sitcom veterans Lisa Kudrow and Thomas Haden Church.

If you are a teenager, have fond memories of high school or have teenage kids, do yourself a favour and watch Easy A. It will have you in stitches!

Director: Will Gluck Screenplay: Bert V. Royal Cast: Emma Stone, Penn Badgley, Amanda Bynes, Patricia Clarkson Time: 92min Age Restriction: 13LS

Genre:
Teen Comedy

Summary Review:
Spud is a charmingly funny coming-of-age movie that does South Africa proud and is on par with the calibre of international films.

Synopsis:
‘Tis the season that all the super expensive blockbuster film franchise series release their latest instalment for the holiday season. Last week was the 7th Harry Potter film and this week we have the 3rd movie in The Chronicles of Narnia series, Voyage of the Dawn Treader.

In support of local film, however, I have a review of Spud here, the film adaptation of South African Johan van de Ruit’s bestselling novel. It is the first in the Spud trilogy and I would recommend it to any boy or man who has gone to boarding school.

John Milton is a “spud”, a boy whose balls have not yet dropped and still sings in a sweet soprano. As the smallest boy in his dorm, he is immediately targeted as the one of the bully favourites in his first year at boarding school.

Throughout the year, however, he proves his worth as he struggles through finding acceptance, discovering girls and making friends with “The Guv” (John Cleese), his English teacher, a dubious mentor if ever there was one.

I personally enjoyed the filmed version of Spud more than the novel, although there are many passionate Spud fans who would disagree.

The young and fresh-faced Troye Sivan, who plays John Milton, does a poignant portrayal of adolescent anguishes and is definitely a name to look out for in the future.

If you want to support our homegrown films and local talent, but are tired of always feeling like South African movies are lame, wannabe versions of much better international films, go and watch Spud. It is impeccably filmed, well-scripted and thoroughly enjoyable.

Director: Donovan Marsh Screenplay: Donovan Marsh, based on the novel by John van de Ruit Cast: Troye Sivan, John Cleese, Tanit Phoenix, Jason Cope Time: 104min Age Restriction: 13SLM

Genre:
Comedy

Summary Review:
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is possibly the funniest movie of the year and will appeal to anyone who’s into gaming and odd humour.

Synopsis:
Michael Cera annoys me, because he always plays the same type of dorky character and is at risk of being typecast. But although Scott Pilgrim is another such loser, the sheer awesomeness of this movie totally won me over.

22-year-old Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera) has started dating a 17-year-old high schooler, because he can’t get over the girl who dumped him over a year ago. The fact that she is in a band that just got signed by a major record label, while Scott’s own band is unknown, doesn’t help either.

Enter Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), a girl like no other, and Scott becomes obsessed with her. But Ramona has a dark past and dangerous baggage, so in order for Scott to date her, he must battle her 7 evil exes.

A comedic sci-fi/fantasy film based in the real world, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is totally original. The post-modern cinematography and sketched-in commentary throughout the film gives it the feel of a real-life comic book, while the staging of the battles with the exes is a mirror of the classic duelling computer games.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is peppered with sharp one-liners that make up a consistently hilarious dialogue, and the movie gives a very obvious lesson on the importance of self-respect.

Without a doubt, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is one of the funniest films of the year and is a must-see movie for anyone who enjoys LANing, PlayStation, Xbox, Wii, Nintendo or any other kind of gaming, as well as anyone with a good sense of humour and an unpretentious taste in films.

Director: Edgar Wright Screenplay: Edgar Wright, Michael Bacall, based on the novel Scott Pilgrim by Bryan Lee O’Malley Cast: Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kieran Culkin, Ellen Wong Time: 108min Age Restriction: 13SLVM

Genre:
Comedy

This exclusive review was made possible by Ster Kinekor cinemas in conjunction with 2oceansvibe.com

Summary Review:
With its acute, barbed humour, swift pace and riveting storyline, The Social Network is an entertaining film of genius, deception and betrayal that should be watched by every one of Facebook’s 500 million users.

Synopsis:
The Social Network surprised me in every way. It was funny, intriguing, gripping and revealing.

When I first heard that they were making a movie about Facebook, I had a hard time believing that anyone could make it interesting enough to watch. Obviously I didn’t know everything there is to the Facebook story – at least not as its depicted in The Social Network.

Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) is a brilliant, geeky undergrad at Harvard University, who becomes an overnight sensation when a site he built after being dumped by his girlfriend got 22 000 hits in a matter of hours.

This brings him to the attention of the Winklevoss (Armie Hammer) twins, who want to start an exclusive dating site for varsity students.

But Mark uses their idea as inspiration for a site that has much greater potential for growth and success.

As Mark’s site becomes more popular, everyone involved along the way feels left out and mistreated.

Facebook has always seemed like a light, positive, friendly place to me and, by association, the people who created it have always had my goodwill. But The Social Network is a window into the dark dealings that have gone on behind it and has robbed me of my naïve ideal.

The Social Network features intuitive acting, an excellent script and taut direction, resulting in a fluid, gripping film that is darkly ironic and subtly sad.

There is a bit of techie jargon that programmers and developers will love, but I recommend that all 500 million Facebook users watch this movie, as you will surely feel connected to the story and will be 100% entertained.

Director: David Fincher Screenplay: Aaron Sorkin, based on The Accidental Billionaires by Ben Mezrich Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Brenda Song Time: 121min

Genre:
Comedy/Drama

Director: Pierre Coffin, Chris Renaud Screenplay: Ken Daurio, Cinco Paul Cast: Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Julie Andrews Time: 95min Age Restriction: 10VM

Genre:
Comedy/Animation

Summary Review:
Despicable Me is a riotous film that will go down in history as a classic in the archives of animated comedy.

Synopsis:
Gru (Steve Carrell) is a professional villain, although his deeds are more mean-spirited than cataclysmically evil.

He is also getting on in years and his status as a successful bad guy is being threatened by younger villains, with more techno-savvy. But Gru comes up with an outrageous plot that will ensure his place in history as the greatest villain of all time.

Despicable Me had me in stitches from start to finish. I was laughing so hard that even the kids in the cinema started giving me weird looks at my snorting.

Besides the brilliant humour and sharp dialogue, that will keep both adults and children entertained, Despicable Me also has a heart. This is slowly revealed as we discover Gru’s desperate attempts to win his mother’s approval, while three little girls barge into his life and fill it with unwelcome chaos.

Despicable Me is the first film from Illumination Entertainment, filled with a new generation humour for the new generation of film lovers.

Director: James Mangold Screenplay: Patrick O’Neill Cast: Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, Peter Sarsgaard, Paul Dano Time: 130min Age Restriction: 13LV

Genre:
Action/Comedy

Summary Review:
Knight And Day is a watchable action movie that feels like a re-run of an old favourite.

Synopsis:
June Havens (Cameron Diaz) is rushing to get on a plane to arrive in time for her sister’s wedding when she accidentally bumps into Roy Miller (Tom Cruise).

June and Roy end up being on the same flight together, but June gets scared when everyone on the plane ends up dead and they start plummeting to the earth.

As it turns out, their meeting was not as coincidental as it seemed and June is dragged into a life-threatening

Knight And Day does not have anything new to offer. The plot is vapid and flimsy, just stringing along the different scenes.

The chemistry between Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz is empty, failing to make you believe in any connection between their characters.

Although the many one-liners are sharp and the action is enjoyable – there are some excellent chase scenes – Knight And Day is nothing we haven’t seen before and compared to the special effects employed by every other action movie nowadays, it is quite disappointing.

Director: Thor Freudenthal  Screenplay: Jackie Filgo, Jeff Filgo, Jeff Judah, Gabe Sachs, based on the novel by Jeff Kinney Cast: Zachary Gordon, Robert Capron, Devon Bostick, Chloë Moretz Time: 94min Age Restriction: PG13

Genre:
Comedy/Children

Summary Review:
Diary Of A Wimpy Kid is a smart and funny film that shows insight into the character of children and addresses the issue of popularity that many carry into adulthood.

Synopsis:
Greg Heffley (Zachary Gordon) is just about to start middle school and his older brother, Rodrick, has told him a number of nightmare stories about what his first day is going to be like and how he can survive the year.

But Greg is not intimidated, on the contrary, he is confident that he will make it to the top of the popularity list by the end of his first week. Unfortunately, becoming popular is not quite as simple as Greg anticipated, especially not for a nerdy kid like him.

So he embarks on a series of tactics to become a “class favourite” – the popular elite, who feature prominently in the school Yearbook. His plans are, however, repeatedly and inadvertently foiled by his desperately uncool best friend, Rowley Jefferson (Robert Capron).

Based on a series of cartoon books by Jeff Kinney, Diary Of A Wimpy Kid is a nimble comedy film, filled with the intelligent, but sarcastic humour of a geeky pre-adolescent. Greg Heffley is a likeable protagonist, despite his shallow ambitions, and the cast of children’s characters will take you right back to your own school days.

The cinematography is standard, but cleverly mixes the live-action sequences with partly animated cartoons, and Diary Of A Wimpy Kid features a good, nostalgia-inducing soundtrack.

It is a bit sophisticated for very young children and not all adults will be amused by the innocent humour, but Diary Of A Wimpy Kid is a charming movie with an underlying message of loyalty, friendship and being yourself.

No, I did not review Eclipse this weekend. If you’re a fan of The Twilight Saga, you’re going to watch Eclipse regardless of what my review says.  So today there’s something a little different for your attention.

The Maid Review

Director: Sebastián Silva Screenplay: Pedro Peirano, Sebastián Silva Cast: Catalina Saavedra, Claudia Celedón, Mariana Loyola, Agustín Silva Time: 95min Age Restriction: 16SNL

Genre:
Dramedy

Summary Review:
The Maid is an award-winning Chilean film about the dangers of isolation and living your life through the achievements of others.

Synopsis:
Raquel (Catalina Saavedra) has been a maid for the Valdes family for 20 years. Although it would seem as though she is part of the family, in reality there has always been the differentiation between the employers and their help.

As a consequence of this emotional exclusion, Raquel has become a rigid and mean-spirited sort of robot, who has buried all the hopes and dreams of her youth. So she works, never changing her facial expression or conversing about anything that does not have to do with her direct duties and responsibilities as a maid.

Raquel no longer puts much effort into her appearance, wearing her uniform as a suit of armour; and she has suppressed the desires for her own family by regarding the Valdes children as her own.

As she gets older, however, the burden of working for such a large family and its huge house becomes too much for Raquel to manage and Mrs. Valdes (Claudia Celedón) hires a series of maids to assist her. But Raquel sees this as a personal insult and makes it unbearable for the new maids to cope.

That is, until Lucy arrives – a secure and compassionate girl whose warmth thaws Raquel’s frozen humanity and brings her back to life.

The Maid is a touching, but hard, look at the dangers of loneliness and suppressing one’s personality, along with the dreams and desires of the heart.

Despite its roughness, The Maid is also filled with a wry, sardonic sense of humour that makes it a rueful pleasure to watch.

Special Note:

I love watching foreign-language films, because they are usually so different from what we’re used to seeing. The filmmakers’ perspective are fully original, the structure and flow of the films are so creative and the stories are fascinating.

If you’ve never watched a foreign-language film before, try out The Maid or give yourself a treat and watch Broken Embraces, Pedro Almodóvar’s latest film starring Penélope Cruz, to see how exotic and complex these films really can be.

Director: Shawn Levy Screenplay: Josh Klausner Cast: Steve Carrell, Tina Fey, Mark Walhberg, Taraji P. Henson Time: 98min Age Restriction: 13SLV

Genre:
Comedy/Action

Summary Review:
Date Night is a thrilling case of mistaken identity played out with style and slick comedic precision.

Synopsis:
Phil (Steve Carrell) and Claire Foster (Tina Fey) are an average, uncool couple from New Jersey. They have two kids and they have their life all figured out – to the point of routine, in fact. Their relationship has fallen into a rut and lacks excitement.

In an effort to rekindle the romantic spark, Phil takes Claire to a trendy new restaurant in Manhattan for their weekly date. When they arrive and there are no tables available, the Fosters take a table reserved for a couple named Tripplehorn.

This proves to be a mistaken when two thugs show up looking for the Tripplehorns and start making death threats.
The Fosters must now prove their innocence and become entangled in a web of crime and deceit with hilarious results.

Date Night begins rather slowly, taking a while to set up the storyline, which is more substantial than you expect from a comedy like this. Once the foundation for the plot is laid, however, the movie races along at breakneck speed.

Steve Carrell and Tina Fey are brilliant comedians, with their own personal styles of comedy, and they bring Date Night to life. The movie goes down in some unexpected locations, including a raunchy strip club and a few seedy alleyways.

The cinematography includes scenes shot with hand-held cameras, which emphasises how out of their depth the Fosters are in this wild adventure story.

With a fine balance between action and comedy, Date Night is a charming comedy of errors, perfect for a first date (or any date for that matter), that has something of interest for both men and women.