Deception

New Film Friday: April 25

Forgetting Sarah Marshall (15)

Geeky "guys", gooey romance, and laughs aplenty about STDs in paediatric wards: that'll be a Judd Apatow production, then. Read Wendy Roby's take on the man who silly boys call a misogynist here and Sylvia Patterson's take on the film's English dandy anti-hero there. Although we could have done without you squatting in those tight trousers in the trailer, Mr Brand.

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Daily Mirror 4/5: "A likeable rom-com that, while light on laughs, remains a bright and breezy romp."

Empire 3/5: "A tropical sex comedy that’s a little unfocused, but Segal and co throw plenty of funniness at the wall - and most of it sticks."

The Times 2/5: "Poor Sarah may be vain and shallow, but she put up with a cereal-scoffing stoner for five years. Doesn’t she deserve some sympathy?"


Persepolis (12A)

Marjane Satrapi's ace graphic novel autobiography turned into French film, which Natalie Hanman tells us more about here. Great trailer including a nice "punk is not ded" jacket and the velvety voice of Catherine Deneuve.


The Guardian 4/5: "So inspired, so simple and so frictionless in its transformation of the source material that it's almost a miracle."

The Independent 3/5: "The tone is defiant and deeply affectionate in recalling Satrapi's bond with her parents and her wise grandmother. It's also searingly honest about her own youthful mistakes."

Channel 4 Film 4.5/5: "Persepolis highlights absurdity when Marjane, late for class, is reprimanded by a guardian for running. She is told, "Your bottom moves in an obscene way." She retorts: "Then don't look at my arse! Persepolis is a compelling story and visually sumptuous."


Three And Out (15)

Mackenzie Crook accidentally kills two people driving a tube train, finds out that if he kills someone else he gets ten years paid leave, so starts trying to find a willing person with a death-wish. Trailer includes a whiff of romance and Kerry Katona shouting "how's your bollocks?"


Time Out 2/6: "There are minor shades of Withnail and I, but it's too gauche, too derivative and merely sporadically amusing."

Daily Mail 2/5: "Who can defend Three And Out's puerile jokes about the Samaritans, cannibalism, knocking off old folks and penis size?"

The Times 1/5: "Anthony Sher is extremely disappointed because he wants Crook to fry and eat his penis. Please don’t ask."


Deception (15)

Hugh Jackman raises a sly eyebrow and blows up stuff; Ewan McGregor brushes his hair forward, passes as a nerdy geek, then has lots of sex. You know, like he always does. (OK, apart from in Star Wars, but in that he does wrap his hand round his light-sabre a lot. And in Long Way Round, but he's usually got something big and throbbing between his legs. Which, boom boom, is a motorbike.)


The Guardian 1/5: "It is about as erotic as a midweek National Express coach journey to Hitchin."

Evening Standard 2/5: "Utterly unmemorable,"

The Times 2/5: "The sting has the novelty of a secondhand suit."


The Eye (15)

Americans steal another Far East horror, Jessica Alba goes blind, gets someone else's eyes, and starts seeing things she shouldn't. Can't trust the NHS staff these days, etc.


Channel 4 Film 1/5: "Another disappointing Asian remake whose scares have been watered down for US consumption."

The Times 2/5: "The Sixth Sense twists are as remarkable as pasteurised cheese. The shrieking fright moments break every EU rule about decibel levels."

Total Film 2/5: "A supernatural schlocker that fritters away the promise of its eye-popping premise and ends up being the cinematic equivalent of cataracts."