Back in Action (2025)

Netflix's Back in Action is reminiscent of both The Family Plan (2023) and Mr and Mrs Smith (2005) and many other spy films. It remains immensely watchable thanks to its lead stars, Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz (who returns to acting after a 10 year absence.)

Matt (Foxx) and Emily (Diaz) are former CIA operatives who now have a (oblivious to their former life) family, a teenage daughter (McKenna Roberts) and a younger son, Leo (Rylan Jackson.) After fifteen years, baddies show up at their door searching for as key – called the Industrial Control Systems (ICS), a device that can control any electronic systems. Matt has hidden the key in London with Emily's mother and legendary MI6 sniper, Ginny (a memorable Glenn Close.)

Jamie Demetriou provides most of the funny lines as Nigel, Ginny's boyfriend, but at times his character is too stupid to be believable. The film moves at a blistering pace with some decent action and well choreographed hand to hand combat. It's very predictable (the baddie is obvious) but it is still 'generically' entertaining. Kyle Chandler is Chuck, an old friend of Emily and Matt. Fun overall. 

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DIRECTED BY: Seth Gordon. SCREENPLAY BY: Seth Gordon, Brendan O'Brien. RUNNING TIME: 114 minutes. CERTIFICATE: 12 / PG-13. USA.  

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The Greatest Showman (2017)

Hugh Jackman is excellent as charismatic Circus owner, P. T. Barnum and Michelle Williams is equally good as his put upon wife, Charity. 

Barnum always wants more, accompanying singing sensation, Jenny Lind (a brilliant Rebecca Ferguson) on tour, as Charity favours family over fame. Will Barnum come to his senses before it's too late? 

The songs are well written and extremely catchy with, "This is Me," by Settle & the Ensemble, clearly the standout track. It's a brilliant anthem for the downtrodden, encouraging us to fight back against those who belittle us. 'This is me, take it or leave it! Keala Settle is superb as the bearded lady, Lettie Lutz. She deserves all of her plaudits. 

There's a sweet romance between Zendaya's adorable acrobat and trapeze artist, Anne Wheeler, and handsome Zac Efron's, Phillip Carlyle, a playwright who becomes Barnum's partner. The film successfully explores the bigotry and racism interracial couples faced at the time. 

Paul Sparks (TV's Boardwalk Empire) plays opinionated theatre critic James Gordon Bennett, who opposes the Barnum Circus (despite accidentally giving it its name.) He's excellent, as is the entire cast. The Greatest Showman is pure joy from start to finish and comes highly recommended. This might just be the greatest show!  

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OTHER CAST: Paul Sparks. DIRECTED BY: Michael Gracey. SCREENPLAY BY: Jenny Bicks, Bill Condon. RUNNING TIME: 105 minutes. CERTIFICATE: PG. USA.  

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It Started with Eve (1941)

One of Hollywood's most underrated musical comedies, the premise for this sublime movie is absolutely irresistible. 

Millionaire Jonathan Reynolds (a superb Charles Laughton) is dying and time is of the essence. Unable to find his fiancee, Gloria Pennington (Margaret Tallichet), distraught son Johnny (Robert Cummings) asks hat check girl Anne Terry (a brilliant, adorable Deanna Durbin) if she can play Gloria for the evening. The problem is Jonathan is so smitten with Anne that he starts to recover! Now Johnny and Anne must keep up with the ruse as not to worsen his condition. 

With great songs, winning performances and memorable comedic set pieces (see: the nightclub dance and the flirty living room banter), this musical, romantic comedy is sure to put a smile on your face. It's feel good entertainment of the highest caliber. The dialogue is expertly written and frequently touching and funny. 

Walter Catlett is excellent as Doctor Harvey, who tries and fails to keep Jonathan on the straight and narrow, hiding Jonathan's beloved cigars. Laughton was only 42 at the time, yet you'd never know it, his old man makeup is so convincing.  

This is Deanna Durbin's best film. “Johnny!” Simply perfect.   

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DIRECTED BY: Henry Koster. SCREENPLAY BY: Norman Krasna, Leo Townsend. RUNNING TIME: 90 minutes. CERTIFICATE: U / G. USA.  

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The Muppets (2011)

Here's a genius idea: sadly, the Muppets aren't as popular as they used to be (aping real life) but Walter (Peter Linz as a puppet lifelong Muppet fan) & his big brother, Gary (real life Muppet fan Jason Segel) set out to reunite them, to remind the world how great they are!  Starting with a reclusive Kermit (Steve Whitmire.)

It's time to play the music... 

Segel and Amy Adams are such a likable couple (Adams as Mary, an elementary school teacher and Gary's long time girlfriend) & the songs are superb, including: the Oscar winning, “Man or Muppet” and the catchy “Life's a Happy Song.” At one point Chris Cooper as Tex Richman (a greedy oil magnet and the main antagonist) breaks into a surprising rap! Only, “Me Party” misses the mark. 

It's fun watching Gary and Mary gather the Muppets from all corners of the world, which include Fozzy, Miss Piggy and Gonzo et al. There are the usual Muppet cameos from the likes of Emily Blunt, Zach Galifianakis and Jack Black. Song choices can be surprising, see: Nirvana's 'Smell's Like Teen Spirit' and the Oscar Winning 'Rainbow Connection' makes an appearance.  

The Muppets is fantastic fun for both kids and adults. “Mahna Mahna.” They're back!

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DIRECTED BY: James Bobin. SCREENPLAY BY: Jason Segel, Nicholas Stoller. RUNNING TIME: 103 minutes. CERTIFICATE: U / G. USA.

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Priscilla (2023)

Priscilla is well written, directed, and produced by Sofia Coppola. It's based on the 1985 memoir Elvis and Me by Priscilla Presley, featuring two outstanding performances from Cailee Spaeny as Priscilla and Jacob Elordi as Elvis Presley. 

We see what it was like for a young lady (Priscilla) to be thrown into Elvis's chaotic, powerful world, taking on not only him but his buddies too, the Memphis Mafia. The excitement she felt, as well as the loneliness, and the constant battle to remain herself (as Elvis could be quite controlling.) 

This film doesn't exactly paint Elvis in a good light, exploring his pill popping, anger filled ways, and his infidelity. As well as the changes to his personality, likely from the pills and his conflicting self help books. 

It offers a fascinating realistic perspective on the King (as a deeply flawed human being as well as a talented one), the woman he loved and who loved him in return (but sadly, at great mental expense.) This film belongs to Priscilla and she is the main focus (as it should be), this is her side of the story and in that regard, the movie is very successful. We see her life unfold on the screen. But perhaps with little re-watch value, once you've seen it. 

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RUNNING TIME: 114 minutes. CERTIFICATE: 15 / R. USA.  

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Perfect Days (2023)

The film follows the life of Hirayama (a captivating Kōji Yakusho), a public toilet cleaner in Tokyo. And, who would have thought this would be so fascinating? When he's not cleaning toilets, Hirayama visits the local noodle bar, the public baths and enjoys playing his cassette tape collection. 

Truthfully: you might adore this art house movie and feel like it has great re-watch value, or you'll wonder what all the fuss is about and you'll be bored. 

Hirayama's niece, Niko (Arisa Nakano) comes to visit, having run away from his wealthy estranged sister, Keiko's home (Yumi Asō.) When elegant Keiko looks down on her brother Hirayama, it's heartbreaking! Great acting from Yakusho. 

This is a snapshot of life with beautiful cinematography. It's well acted (from all) and constantly interesting, watching this gentle man's, habitual daily routine unfold. 

The characters feel so real with the message being that perfect days come in all forms, we too can find the joy in life, even in our most mundane tasks (if we're willing to look for it.) 

X (it's your turn.) 

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DIRECTED BY: Wim Wenders. SCREENPLAY BY: Wim Wenders, Takuma Takasaki. RUNNING TIME: 124 minutes. CERTIFICATE: PG. JAP / GER.

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Labyrinth (1986)

When her baby brother Toby makes a fuss, teen babysitter Sarah (Jennifer Connelly)  wishes the goblins would show up and take him away. Enter David Bowie's Goblin King, Jareth (complete with that famous codpiece.) If she can make it through his complex Labyrinth in 13 hours, Jareth will spare her baby brother, otherwise he'll turn him into a goblin! 

Labyrinth has great Bowie led songs and wonderful Jim Henson puppet creations like dwarf Hoggle and gentle beast, Ludo who help Sarah on her challenging mission. Best of all is a fox terrier named Sir Didymus and his Old English Sheepdog, Ambrosius. 

This 80's fantasy remains full of imagination, purposely weird, and endlessly fascinating, even on repeat viewings. It couldn't be made now, at least not as successfully. It's a total one off. 

The scene where Sarah leans how important family is and how materialistic items aren't really that important (from the Junk lady) is a memorable one, with a good message for children. The film explores Sarah's innocence as well as her awakening sexuality (see her dance with Jareth) until she realises - you have no power over me! Now that's feminism. 

The actors are terrific and the end showdown is brilliantly done with gravity defying staircases. Labyrinth is an 80's classic. All together now, "You remind me of the babe..."

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Side note: despite being a U certificate certain scenes might be too scary for little ones.

DIRECTED BY: Jim Henson. SCREENPLAY BY: Terry Jones. RUNNING TIME: 101 minutes. CERTIFICATE: U / G. UK / USA.    

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Jurassic World Dominion (2022)

JWD dares to do something different, instead of just re-hashing the same old story. 

This isn't just about Dinosaurs roaming about in the free world, it's about a daring rescue mission, as Owen (Chris Pratt) and Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard) try to get their cloned daughter, Maisie (Isabella Sermon) back, while also trying to expose a Biosyn conspiracy (a genomics corporation.) 

Of course this being a Jurassic Park / World film, Dr. Henry Wu. (BD Wong) is involved. Swarms of genetically engineered giant locusts are decimating US crops, are Biosyn to blame? Will this lead to global food shortages? Putting us all at risk of mass famine.

There are some great set pieces here, none more so than Raptors vs. Owen on a motorbike! And there are some epic Bourne style fight scenes too. The entire sequence in Malta is intense, with well choreographed action. 

The Legacy cast (Sam Neil, Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum) slip back into their old roles and it's like they never left. There's even time for a much longed for romance. Pratt and Howard remain a likable presence, as does newcomer Sermon (who we met in the last film, but has much more to do here.)

Trevorrow keeps the entire thing moving, moving like a terrified crestfallen Claire, parachuting out of a plane! 

DeWanda Wise is fun as a former US Air Force pilot. They should have kept the drive-in cinema scene at the beginning, in the original cut. [It's in the extended HD version, no 4K for that sadly.]

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DIRECTED BY: Colin Trevorrow. SCREENPLAY BY: Emily Carmichael, Colin Trevorrow. RUNNING TIME: 146 minutes. CERTIFICATE: 12A / PG-13. USA.

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