TV: Veep (S2) (9/10)

Why did I watch it?
I really enjoyed the first season of Veep, chiefly because of the show's writing. It's probably my favourite comedy show on TV.

What's it all about?
Armando Ianucci's US comedy returns and follows Vice President Selina Meyer's (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) bumbling office career through the corridors of Washington D.C. This time around the Veep clashes with the President's new strategist Kent Davison, upsets Europe and decides whether to run alongside the President for another term.










The Good:

• Jonah (Timothy Simons) and his various entrance catchphrases
• New White House characters, cold cynical Kent and deadpan Ben
• Satirical humour including government shutdown
• Dreyfus is in her element again as Meyer

The Bad:

• Maybe a little too acerbic at times, the more subtle put-downs work better

Favourite line:

'De-pork the visual' - Kent Davison

Stand-out moment: The Helsinki episode

Like the show? Watch: The Thick of It

What my wife would say: Not keen, too crude.

What the world thinks:

Metacritic - 75/100

Twitter -

Lead Actress in a Comedy Series goes to @OfficialJLD, now 4-time Emmy winner. Love that Tony Hale joined her onstage to hold her bag. #Veep
— VANITY FAIR (@VanityFair) September 23, 2013

TV: Hello Ladies (S1) (7/10)

Why did I watch it?
I'm not always that keen on the Stephen Merchant/Ricky Gervais writing duo, sometimes it grates on me a little, but having just been to L.A. I wanted to at least give the show's first episode a go.

What's it all about?
Stephen Merchant writes and stars as Stuart Pritchard, an awkwardly arrogant and shallow Brit looking for love amongst the models of L.A. Hello Ladies also follows Stuart's lodger, played by Christine Woods, an unsuccessful actress desperately trying to rekindle her career, who shares many of Stuart's personality traits.







The Good:

• The supporting cast, Christine Woods (Jessica), Nate Torrance (Wade), Kevin Weisman (Kives) and Kyle Mooney (Rory)
• The front end of the season was strongest, funny moments and laugh out loud gags as Stuart trips himself up each episode.
• The intro, loved it!

The Bad:

• Slightly unbalanced, it's difficult to like Merchant's character Stuart, he really is a total asshole but the season ends with him making a selfless decision
• Cringing comedy crosses the line on occasions - the episode The Dinner was uncomfortable to watch in places (but I still laughed - shame on me).

Favourite line:

[Planning a party]....'Write that down, drub-step' - Stuart

Stand-out moment:

Painfully three-point turning a limo outside a nightclub queue having just failed to blag his way into.

Like the writing? Watch: The Office, Extras

What my wife would say: Watched it, the cringe factor was too much for her in places

What the world thinks:

Metacritic - 58/100

Twitter -

Also, started watching Hello, Ladies on HBO. It's excellent, dont understand why it didnt catch on.
— Sam Dolnick (@samdolnick) December 2, 2013

FILM: Silver Linings Playbook (8/10)

Why did I watch it?
Due to the hype, nominations and awards I always meant to catch this film but it never appealed to me as much as some of the other films out at the time like Lincoln, Life of Pi etc. Anyway, the Mrs was keen to watch it (a film with Bradley Cooper and dancing!) so we did.

What's it all about?
Recently released from a mental hospital, bi-polar Pat (Bradley Cooper) moves back in with his parents and focuses everything on getting back together with his estranged wife, despite the fact she took out a restraining order against him. Back in town he meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), recently widowed and with her own problems, who needs a dancing partner.







The Good:

• A different take on the old romantic comedy story
• Interesting story that combines American football, mental illness and dancing.
• Great cast and absorbing performances all around, personally I thought Bradley Cooper's was slightly superior to Jennifer Lawrence's. It wasn't interesting to see Cooper use some of mannerisms from this film again in The Place Beyond the Pines.
• Features the Philadelphia Eagles, my favourite NFL team.

The Bad:

• Cooper's intense portrayal of his character can take a little getting used to at the offset.

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Eagle's jersey

Favourite line:

'You say more inappropriate things than appropriate things.' - Tiffany

Stand-out moment:

Either the dancing competition (not as off-beat as the one from Little Miss Sunshine but it does have bi-polar tendencies) or Pat waking his parents in the middle of the night to rant about the Ernest Hemingway book he is reading having an unhappy ending. 

Like the film? Watch: Little Miss Sunshine

Like the director? Watch: The Fighter, upcoming American Hustle (starring Cooper and Lawrence again).

What my wife said: Disappointed, 'the only reason to watch this film is because it has Bradley Cooper in'.

What the world thinks:

Rotten Tomatoes - 92%

Metacritic - 81/100

LAMB Score - 4.26/5

Twitter -

I can't remember the last time I liked a movie as much as "Silver Linings Playbook." The art direction and soundtrack were ACHINGLY good.
— Rainbow Rowell (@rainbowrowell) September 12, 2013

FILM: Pitch Perfect (6/10)

Why did I watch it?
All due to the Mrs this one. I fell for the line 'apparently it's like Bridesmaids and nothing like Glee'.

What's it all about?
Having freshly arrived at college, Beca wants a career in music and to appease her father ends up joining The Barden Belles, an unsuccessful all-girl a capella group determined to beat their long time rivals The Trebelmakers to competition success.

The Good:

• There's no denying that Pitch Perfect is funny at times. The script does contain a few gems so there is something here for the non-singing type.
• Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson) is responsible for most of the film's laughs
• The cynical and misogynistic competition commentary provided by Elizabeth Banks and John Michael Higgins
• Cameo by Christopher Mintz-Plasse

The Bad:

• Both the singing and relationship story-lines are all too predictable
• Feels like The Breakfast Club is incorporated into the main couple's relationship story for nothing other than some form of credibility and coolness factor for the pair. As if they would be watching anything other than Glee.

Shall we watch Glee after this?

Favourite line:

'I'm going to kill him, I'm going to finish him like a cheesecake!' - Fat Amy

Stand-out moment:

The a capella battle

Like the film? Watch: Bridesmaids 

Like the singing and stuff? Watch: Glee

What my wife would say: 'It's more Bridesmaids than Glee'.

What the world thinks:

Rotten Tomatoes - 81%

Metacritic - 66/100

LAMB Score - 3.19/5

Twitter -

Just watched Pitch Perfect and...... enjoyed it. I'm disappointed in myself.
— Jake Hardy (@JakeAlive) October 23, 2013

FILM: 10 Years (5/10)

Why did I watch it?

The Mrs chose this one and I thought what the hell.

What's it all about?

The clue is in the title, it's a 10 year high school reunion romantic comedy starring Channing Tatum, Rosario Dawson, Justin Long and Oscar Isaacs among others. There's little else to say except the film plays out the events of the evening as the characters reunite and discover things about each other and themselves.

Should you watch it?
Probably not. It's difficult to see what attracted such an ensemble cast to this mediocre, underwhelming school reunion yarn.

Most people's own school reunion's are uninteresting enough and the array of characters in 10 Years do not strike enough of a chord with the audience to make their story engaging. The characters are introduced almost en-mass and it's really difficult to invest in anyone in particular, especially considering the typical run of the mill issues and relationships involved, old flames, bullies, the popular girl etc., that all took place ten years ago.

The script does achieve some small levels of poignancy, the highlight being Oscar Isaac's song written for his secret high school crush, and their are a few funny running gags throughout but ultimately the reunion finishes, the story is told and my detachment from it left me wondering what was the point in watching.

FILM: For A Good Time, Call... (7/10)

Why did I watch it?

It's amazing how many films can pass you by on release. Admittedly this might not be the type of film I would look out for but I had never even seen or heard any mentions of this before my other half suggested we watch it.

What's it all about?

Dumped for being boring, Lauren (Lauren Miller) reluctantly agrees to move in with friend of a friend wild chick Katie (Ari Graynor) for the summer. The pair have a fractious history but their relationship improves when Lauren discovers that Katie is making money on the side from a phone sex service and decided she wants in.

Should you watch it?
I wasn't expecting much from this film, I wasn't even going to watch it but For A Good Time, Call... actually turned out to be a pretty decent comedy that put a smile on my face time and time again. Much of that is down to the subject matter, smutty raunchy sex humour will always be funny to my juvenile side. Credit needs to also be given to the leading pair, Lauren Miller and Ari Graynor. Miller (Seth Rogen's wife) co-wrote the film and Graynor is brilliantly cast as the Katie, the imposing, raunchy alpha-female masking vulnerability. I don't think the film would be as funny without her. Considering the female writing team and cast the film certainly rivals, but not quite beats, stand-out female comedy Bridesmaids.

Justin Long plays an over the top gay friend and cameo's from Rogen and Kevin Smith are among the film's highlights. 

Short, funny and with predictable heart in the final third, For A Good Time, Call... is worth checking out.

FILM: Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (9/10)

Why did I watch it?

The question should be 'How has it taken me 15 years to watch this?'. Almost a British institution, it is shameful that it has taken this long!

What's it all about?

Four East End wannabe laaaaaads, Bacon, Eddy, Tom and Soap, end up in debt to the tune of £500,000 to local gangster Harry The Hatchet with a week to pay up. When they discover that the flat next door is occupied by a gang of like minded part time criminals who are planning a robbery of their own, an opportunity presents itself to recover their losses.

Should you watch it?
The film that launched Madonna's one time husband Guy Ritchie to the masses is a triumph of the East End gangster culture laced with a heavy dose of humour and inept characters. One long Mexican stand off in the making with a sharp script full of memorable lines, 'it's been emotional', it's easy to imagine Lock Stock as a film Tarantino would be proud of.

The opening scene belongs to Jason Statham, in his first film, playing a dodgy dealer in a role different to the action tough guys he would go on to trademark, as he wheels and deals fenced items with a Cockney slang heavy script, 'it's a deal, it's a steal'. Ritchie does a good job of gradually introducing the film's characters as the layers of the story develop through narration and hearsay and the characters, from drug kingpin Rory Breaker to Rob Brydon's traffic warden, score the film major plus points.


Lock Stock also boasts a brilliant soundtrack of contemporary British music, Ocean Colour Scene, The Stone Roses and some classic songs, Zorba the Greek, that are well used in the film.

FILM: Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (7/10)

Why did I watch it?
What was the worst that could happen?

What's it all about?
I forget the plot of the franchise's second film Escape to Africa, but here the gang leave Africa and head to Europe (on board the monkey piloted plane). After arriving in Monte Carlo and making a scene at a casino, Marty, Alex, Melman, Gloria, King Julien and the penguins stowaway on-board a circus train.

Should you watch it?
Madagascar 3 is probably the most colourful, bright and energetic film you will see this year. Freshened up with additional characters, the writing is funny for both children and adults, although slightly uneven throughout the film.

Most of the laughs come from Stefano the sea lion, King Julien or the penguins rather than the main characters, the voices of which can become borderline irritating after hearing them in three films. The writing makes homages to plenty of other films, my favourite being the banana gun fired from the plane, which shot in slow-motion as with many stylish action sequences, had banana skins flying out and building up rather than shell casings. The nationalities represented by the new characters of the circus, specifically Eastern Europe, France and Italy, are shamelessly stereotyped. Although I don't take issue with it, on the contrary the Italian sea lion (voiced by Martin Short)  was the funniest character in my view, it is lazy writing to rely on these stereotypes so heavily.

The sequence from the film's start to the end of the chase through Monte Carlo, along parts of the F1 circuit no less, was a brilliant and the highlight of the film. It's unfortunate that this was the first twenty minutes.

Colourful, energetic and often funny third outing for the popular franchise.

FILM: Men in Black 3 (7/10)

Why did I watch it?

I'm pretty sure I have only seen the original MiB film, somehow managing to avoid the universally panned sequel (39% RT) (either that or I've blocked it from memory). In any case, its Mrs Media Worm who loves the MiB franchise, in no small part due to Mr. Will Smith.

What's it all about?

Agents J (Will Smith) and K (Tommy Lee Jones) discover that Boris the Animal (Jemaine Clement - Flight of the Conchords), imprisoned by K forty years previously, has escaped from a top security prison on the moon. Boris travels back in time to kill K before he can be captured. After K and everyone but J's memories of him disappear from the present, J travels back to 1969 and teams up with a younger K to stop Boris before he changes history.

Should you watch it?
Considering a third film in a franchise? Considered a time-travel plot to breathe some life into the story? This is exactly what MiB 3's writer, Etan Cohen, did and it largely works, taking Will Smith out of the present, dropping him into 1969 and adding either new characters or younger versions of characters from the previous two films. Trying to splice elements of time travel into a story always runs the risk of tying the narrative up in knots and although MiB 3 steered clear of these complications, I still found myself pondering the repercussions much afterwards. 

Due to the plot this instalment features considerably less Tommy Lee Jones than before, but fear not, the buddy movie concept is not lost as Josh Brolin accurately replicates, not just impersonates, Agent K some forty years earlier to butt heads with Smith's fast talking Agent J. Brolin's note perfect performance as a younger Jones is the highlight of the film, helping the plot  move forward in anticipation of the event that leads to K's even more dead pan and serious demeanour. What causes this actually turns out to be a surprisingly tender ending to the film, and one that deserves to finish the franchise.

"Oh no, this is the one where......"

Michael Stuhlbarg (gangster Arnold Rothstein from Boardwalk Empire) has an amusing, scene stealing turn as Griffin, the quirky alien capable of seeing all possible permutations of the future, all that was missing was a mention of Schrodinger's Cat.

All things considered, MiB 3 is a likeable return to the form for the franchise, but one that isn't truly funny or inventive enough to suggest that the franchise can go much further.

TV: Girls (S2) (4/10)

Why did I watch it?

I quite enjoyed the first season of Lena Dunham's Girls, through its quirky adult humour and carefree attitude it was a breath of fresh air and season two followed hot on its heels in the UK.

What's it all about?

Following on from the events of its debut season, Girls returns to find the four twenty-somethings, Hannah, Marnie, Jessa and Shoshanna still dealing with unglamorous modern day adult life in the Big Apple. Hannah finally gets a book deal, Marnie loses her job, Jessa's honeymoon period ends and Shoshanna begins a relationship with Ray.

Should you watch it?

The season's tagline is 'Almost getting it kind of together', which must be the biggest in-joke in the TV industry. This season saw both all of the characters and the show itself fall apart spectacularly. Only in the final episode does the outlook of the main characters begin to show signs of improvement, but by then it is too late, the previous nine episodes charting the odd and downright bizarre unravelling of the girls' lives being too much to bear. Why is everyone and everything in Lena Dunham's imagination so cringe-worthy and weird? Is anyone normal in the state of New York? Parents, friends, employers, all complete stereotype eccentrics.

Coke fuelled night out (for book research) wearing a
yellow string vest and no bra?
Why not, its Girls.

Second time around I found several of the characters more annoying than amusing, none more so than Dunham's Hannah. Her whining, self-obsessed nature became unbelievably grating and frankly it's no wonder she finds herself abandoned in her time of need. This was a shame, as the final episodes reveal an underlying health problem of Hannah's has returned that genuinely made me sympathise with her during a few sombre scenes, but it was too late for me and my relationship with her character.

The narrative jumps around all over the place from episode to episode, and we spend more time with a few of the other characters, like Adam and Ray, usually resulting in most of the funnier moments. It would be unfair to say that the script became unfunny this time around, 'I may be deflowered but I am not devalued' or 'I'm a miracle. I'm a unicorn. I'm a needle in a haystack...and you are munching my hay', but with the oddities, annoying characters, gratuitous nudity, awkward sex and somewhat depressing nature, the season was nowhere near the success of the first. In fact, my wife declared that she wants nothing to do with any further seasons!

FILM: The Artist (8/10)

Why did I watch it?
How would you not want to? Lavished with awards throughout 2011, including Academy Awards for Best Picture, Actor and Director, somebody must have done something right.

What's it all about?
It's 1927 and George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) is at the height of popularity as a star of silent films when he meets Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo), an aspiring actress. Two years later and Miller's popularity has rocketed while George's studio has ended production on silent films, making the switch to 'talkies', leaving George struggling to  cope with his fall from stardom.


Should you watch it?
I sat down to watch The Artist with a certain degree of apprehension, it was the first black and white or silent film I have ever really watched. Sadly these factors put off Mrs Media Worm so I watched it solo.

The Artist is like no other film I have seen (stating the obvious) before, in the same way I often lean towards black and white photography, I found the lack of colour enhanced the film's stylish presentation. After a short time I forgot I was watching a film with no dialogue, and enjoyably so.  Ludovic Bource's score sublimely supports the cast, with necessary dialogue provided by the occasional old fashioned dialogue intertitles.  

Best Actor & Best Dog - George & Jack

Before seeing the film, I'll be honest, I was sceptical of the film's hype, especially seeing actors unknown to a wide audience wining awards for Best Actor, but Jean Dujardin's performance as the proud, egocentric star George Valentin is as wonderful as I have seen lately. Dujardin seems built for silent film where expressions count for so much, ironic given the film's story. The contrast between his over-acted performances as the silent film actor and his toned down but still expression led performance as an actor in what is a silent film is subtle but fascinating. Berenice Bejo is just as rapturous as Peppy Miller and together the two are enchanting. Considering the film is French, I was surprised by the faces that popped up amongst the supporting cast, notably John Goodman, Malcom McDowell and James Cromwell. Credit must also go to Uggie the dog, probably now the most famous on screen canine since Snowy.

The stairs scene

Academy Award Best Director Michel Hazanavicius includes some stylish shots, my favourite being the shot of George and Peppy talking on the stairway of the Bradway Building while extras busily move around them on all levels at a seemingly faster speed.

The film's plot is actually a sombre, simple little romance story where very little actually happens but what does transpire does so leisurely, at an easy going pace, as befits the time.

FILM: Piranha 3D (7/10)

Why did I watch it?
Because sometimes you just need some low brow, tongue-in-cheek horror to brighten up your day.

What's it all about?
It's spring break at Lake Victoria and the small town has been invaded by the stereotypical masses of drunken frat-boys and bikini-clad college girls. Unfortunately for them, their lakeside debauchery coincides with the release of thousands of super aggressive prehistoric piranhas into the water from an underground lake, opened up after millions of years by an earthquake. Elisabeth Shue stars as the local sheriff and Jerry O'Connell plays a pornographer out filming on the lake, both caught up in the horror.  

Should you watch it?
As long as you can handle the deliberately gratuitous gore, boobs, more gore and more boobs (the things I go through for the purposes of a review!),  Piranha 3D is a hilarious and enjoyable B-movie horror. It is probably the goriest film I have ever seen, but whereas the likes of Hostel cross in to  'gorno' territory, director Alexandra Aja provides horror and violence of the comedy kind.

Aja sacrifices a few lone lake inhabitants over the first half of the action and moving underwater shots suggest that no-one is safe. However, once Sheriff Forrester (Shue) discovers the truth behind the random attacks, Aja releases the army of piranhas on the partying spring break masses in a ten minute scene that can only be described as total carnage, with a body count that makes Rambo look like Disney. Some of the deaths are so hilarious, they must be seen to be believed.

Elisabeth Shue is the film's hero, Ving Rhames barely appears and Christopher Lloyd adds to the general craziness with his small part, but it's O'Connell's crazed, coked up adult film director who is most memorable.

The piranha: eats bikini-clad spring breakers  

Although it owes a lot to Jaws and the original parody Piranha, Aja ensures that Piranha 3D is it's own beast (at one point the music does sound similar to John Williams' theme though!). 

FILM: Bridesmaids (8/10)

Why did I watch it?
Heard good things about this from friends and the missus so I gave it a go. Judd Apatow produces and he generally knows funny when he sees it.

What's it all about?
Annie (Kristen Wiig) is a single, mid-30s woman with a failed business venture behind her. She is asked by best friend Lillian (Maya Rudolph) to be her maid of honour but quickly finds a rival for the position in Lillian's new friend Helen (Rose Byrne). As the wedding preparations continue, Annie and Helen spar with each other while Annie struggles to overcome her past difficulties and be the perfect maid of honour.

Should you watch it?
Before seeing Bridesmaids, I genuinely thought it was just a female Hangover rip-off. Maybe that was the marketing or maybe I was being lazy. Having seen the film, the truth lies somewhere between the two. Yes, its about chaotic pre-wedding festivities, the gang intend to go to Vegas and yes, there are some moments of hilarious toilet humour, but that's about it. 

Melissa McCarthy steals most scenes she is in with her brazen vulgarity, a supporting role for which she was Oscar nominated. Prior to his appearance in Lena Durham's Girls (also produced by Apatow), Chris O'Dowd appears as a traffic officer and Matt Lucas has a cameo as Annie's landlord. After reading that Rose Byrne and Wiig ad-libbed most of the speech scene, Byrne's stock has increased in my eyes, as I would never have thought her capable of a comedy role. 

What sets Bridesmaids apart is that as well being hilarious, it's script has heart, and genuine heart, not the over the top contrived heart usually found at the end of most comedies. 

Over everything else, Bridesmaids is a showcase for Kristen Wiig's sharp co-written script and funny portrayal as the flawed and troubled maid of honour. Her inclusion in the upcoming Anchorman sequel is surely down to the success of Bridesmaids.

I would even go as far as that the girls have outdone the boys and produced a comedy better than its closest sibling, The Hangover.

FILM: The Campaign (7/10)

Why did I watch it?
The trailer looked vaguely funny when it came out last year and I hoped that Zach Galifianakis would bring the best out in Will Ferrell.

What's it all about?
Ferrell is 'true American' congressman Cam Brady, about to run unopposed for North Carolina for the fifth time. After a public relations gaffe by Brady, scheming political financiers decide to find someone to run as a rival candidate, in order to achieve their end goals. Enter Galifianakis, as mild mannered pug owner local Marty Huggins.


Should you watch it?

Those expecting sharp political satire need look elsewhere. The Campaign is a typical Will Ferrell vehicle that greatly benefits from the added presence of Galifianakis. The duo provide ample laughs throughout and there are some really funny scenes and lines such as Brady trying to recite the Lord's Prayer from his aides actions or Brady's assertions that everything seems to be 'this nation's backbone' including 'Phillipino tilt-a-whirl operators'.

"Seductively approved by Cam Brady"

While the film does laugh, and laugh well, at the expense of mud slinging campaigns, expectations of the electorate of a 'real American' politician including portrait of a majestic eagle in the home and of the lack of genuine political discussion, the writers of the likes of The Thick of It need not lose any sleep.

FILM: Friends With Benefits (7/10)

Why did I watch it? 

Mila Kunis. It looked like a reasonable rom-com with more untraditional leanings. Mila Kunis in pants.

What's it all about?

Dylan (Justin Timberlake) moves to New York after being head-hunted by Jamie (Mila Kunis). The pair become friends and having both had relationship problems in the past decide they can become 'friends with benefits' in order to satisfy their needs without affecting their friendship.

Should you watch it?
Having read the plot outline above, it will probably be pretty obvious to all how the story ends and unsurprisingly Friends With Benefits stays true to expectations. That said, what happens prior is largely enjoyable thanks to a strong script, energetic performances from the leads and fantastic chemistry between Timberlake and Kunis. Woody Harrelson turns up as a gay sports editor to some amusement. I did get a little frustrated at how flippant and cocky the pair are in assuming that their friendship will be unaffected, especially when as a viewer you know what's around the corner, perhaps that's the whole rub of the film though I guess.

The writers try unashamedly hard to pitch their characters as the coolest inner city hipsters, Jamie from N.Y. and Dylan from L.A, listening to Semisonic, with flash mob contacts and friends with street artists. As the pair make fun of romantic film stereotypes, the writers just about avoid falling into the traps they mock.

FILM: Ted (6/10)

Why did I watch it?

I'm not a regular watcher of Seth Macfarlane's Family Guy but I've enjoyed the episodes I've seen over the years. Ted seemed to be getting promising reviews and the trailer looked pretty funny.

What's it all about?
As a child, John Bennett (Mark Wahlberg) wishes he could be best friends with his teddy bear for ever. His wish comes true and his bear comes to life. Fast forward to his mid-thirties and John is still inseparable from Ted much to the chagrin of his girlfriend Mila Kunis. While still a teddy bear, Ted has grown up into a rude, beer drinking, pot smoking bad influence on John's life.

Should you watch it?
I was quite disappointed with Ted to be truthful. I actually found that Ted became slightly annoying as the movie went on, which is a pretty major problem. The script is packed with Family Guy style lines for Ted, but I found them to be very hit and miss, even more so once Ted began to grate on me.  

That's not to say that Ted doesn't have some very funny moments and nice touches. For instance, it begins with nods to magical Christmas films as Patrick Stewart narrates John's Christmas wish as the camera pans over the neighbourhood at night to witness a shooting star. I also liked the way that Macfarlane made the magic of Ted visible to all and that Ted had become an overnight celebrity before his novelty and popularity wore off. It's a refreshing but necessary take on the traditional children's magic tale.


Overall, it's a shame I didn't enjoy the film more as Mark Wahlberg plays the role of the lazy, childish grown-up well and also shows a good handle for the comedy aspect. 

FILM: The Sitter (5/10)

Why did I watch it?

Good question. I remember this being released and with Jonah Hill as the lead I was hoping for something along the lines of Superbad. 

What's it all about?
Jonah Hill plays Noah Griffin, a geeky, overweight, suspended college student who tries to combine the baby-sitting of three troublesome children with an attempt to impress a girl by picking up some cocaine for her. What could possibly go wrong?

Should you watch it?
In one word, no. It has to be said that The Sitter is not without it's funny moments. I'm sure that plenty of people laughed along in places. Any film in which Hill is on camera for it's entirety is bound to have some decent gags. It's just that for the most part the 'jokes' are either pretty lame or unoriginal. Think True Romance for the old 'fighting over a bag of coke until it tears open all over the face of a car's occupant' scene. I get that the children are supposed to be annoying for the sake of laughs, but they are really annoying in a particularly unfunny sense. Jonah Hill does his best to lead the film while things fall down around him but it's too much for his broad shoulders to cope with and the film lurches through some awkward scenes in which Hill provides sincere fatherly advice to the children to it's finish inside of 80 minutes.
  

TV: Girls (S1) (7/10)

Why did I watch it?

Remember mentioning this to my other half, who is a massive Sex and the City fan, that Girls was supposed to be a modern, more offbeat take on the lives of New York's young women. And that was enough. Oh and Judd Apatow's name was attached to it.

What's it all about?

Four twenty-something girls, Hannah, Marnie, Jessa and Shoshanna deal with a variety of everyday issues individually and collectively as they each look to make their way in the Big Apple.

Should you watch it?

Remember the four Manhattan based women on Sex and the City? Splashing the cash to keep up with the fashion and attending NY's most glamorous parties? Forget them. Four girls in New York is where the similarities end. These girls live in Brooklyn, struggle to pay rent and are more likely to attend parties in warehouses.

Based on some of her own experiences, Lena Durham (who plays lead character Hannah) created and wrote the show, as well as directing five of the ten episodes. She deserves credit for writing such a fresh take on the 'girls story'. The girls in question are not always at their glamorous best, crude, promiscuous and are supported by a witty and often hilarious script. Their day to day issues are largely trivial, Hannah's parents cut her off financially, Marnie's boyfriend is too perfect, Shoshanna is a virgin and Jessa returns from travelling unhappy at adapting to the real world. Despite this, the script makes these trivial storylines more than amusing and the pure oddness of the supporting characters, mainly Adam (Adam Driver), really helps. One guy decides not have to have sex with Shoshanna when he discovers she's a virgin because "virgins get attached. Or they bleed.". To which she replies, "I'm a totally unattached bleeder". Chris O'Dowd makes a hilarious cameo in a later episode as a wealthy businessman who gets agonisingly close to having a ménage a trois with Jessa and Marnie, only for it to fall apart before his eyes and actually be more annoyed that the girls spilt wine onto his expensive rug.

FILM: Crazy, Stupid, Love. (7/10)

Why did I watch it?

Another Mrs Northerner special this one while we were on holiday. I hadn't even heard of this film before watching it.

What's it all about?

A romantic comedy that weaves together the romantic entanglements of several interlinked characters. To refer to Crazy Stupid Love as a love triangle would be simplifying it grossly. A love triangle dangerously perched on top of a love pyramid would be more accurate. Steve Carell is the soon to be divorced middle-aged guy with no interest in finding another fish in the sea. He meets successful ladies man Ryan Gosling who offers to help reinvent him as a ladies man himself. Meanwhile Gosling meets a girl and begins to question his own lifestyle of fast women while Carrell's young son ambitiously pines after his babysitter, who herself has eyes on a guy herself. Amongst all this, Carrell's wife Julianne Moore continues to date Kevin Bacon, the cause of the divorce.

Chat-up lines Dad-style

Should you watch it?

As rom-coms go, Crazy Stupid Love is definitely worth a watch. Steve Carell is pretty funny as always and the same can be said for the plot machinations which culminate in a hilarious farcical scene as the love triangle/pyramid collapses. It also features a pretty large A-list cast which certainly helps things along.

FILM: The Proposal (5/10)

Why did I watch it?

Mrs Northerner suggested we watch this as it was on TV while we were away. I think this may be at least strike #2 for her being allowed to suggest films to watch.

What's it all about?

Ok, Sandra Bullock is the bitchy editor-in-chief and Ryan Reynolds is her personal assistant. Bullock's visa (she's Canadian) expires and in order to protect her job she reveals to her employers that her and Reynolds are engaged and soon to be married. Obviously they aren't but Reynolds reluctantly agrees providing he is made editor and his book is published. Cue fun and games as Bullock meets Reynolds family and the couple try to avoid prison by tricking an inquisitive immigration agent.

Should you watch it?

The happy couple

It was sadly predictable how predictable the plot turned out to be. I don't think I'm giving anything away by saying that spoiler alert they don't get on, then get on, then fall out at the last minute before making up. The only unknown is knowing how close to the end the last minute falling out occurs. I've had more unpredictable trips to the bathroom.

Despite the plot, Reynolds and Bullock do have a genuine chemistry, are capable comedic performers and turn in decent performances within the constrains of the plot. The script's immense sarcasm and the pair's forced affection for each other, despite their contempt, can actually be pretty funny to watch.