Stuff To Look At

A veritable profusion of cinema-related goodness this week, with the new Tammy trailer, Under The Skin and Miss Piggy…

Tammy

Above is the first Tammy trailer. The comedy stars Melissa McCarthy, Susan Sarandon, Dan Aykroyd and Kathy Bates. Apparently, Susan Sarandon plays Melissa McCarthy’s grandmother. I’m not sure how this is possible, given how young Sarandon looks. Perhaps she is aged up. Tammy is due for release in UK cinemas on 4th July 2014.

Under The Skin

Here is the full UK trailer for science-fiction thriller Under The Skin. Directed by Jonathan Glazer and starring Scarlett Johansson the film has been receiving critical acclaim at its festival screenings. Under The Skin is released in UK cinemas on 14th march 2014.

The Love Punch

Pierce Brosnan and Emma Thompson star as an ex-husband and wife whose retirement fund is wiped out when their company is defrauded in The Love Punch. This comedy caper also stars Timothy Spall and Celia Imrie. The Love Punch hits UK screens on 18th April 2014.

Muppets Most Wanted

Miss Piggy looks resplendent. Her dress is designed by none other than Vivienne Westwood, who has also designed Miss Piggy’s key wardrobe for Muppets Most Wanted. The image above begs the question of whether Miss Piggy marries Kermit in the film. I wholeheartedly approve, particularly if Rowlf provides piano accompaniment. Muppets Most Wanted is released in cinemas on 28th March 2014.

Postman Pat: The Movie

Postman Pat can carry a tune?! This is apparently the case in the upcoming Postman Pat: The Movie. I am more interested, however, in the robots. And Jess of course. And the glimpse of robot Jess. Postman Pat: The Movie hits UK screens on 23rd May 2014.

Transformers: Age of Extinction

This teaser trailer has everything; Optimus Prime getting pumped with bullets, Marky Mark running around looking scared, Dinobots, and, erm, dragons. I’m sure more will be revealed as the release approaches. Transformers: Age of Extinction is due for release on 10th July 2014 in the UK.

The Legend of Hercules

This trailers is giving me shades of Gladiator and 300. Kellan Lutz plays the titular character in The Legend of Hercules. Having previously appeared in Immortals, Lutz is no stranger to ancient myth films. The Legend of Hercules is released in UK cinemas on 28th March 2014.

Yves Saint Laurent

Biopic Yves Saint Laurent looks slick, polished, and endlessly stylish. Pierre Niney stars as the young fashion designer who is catapulted to fame in the late 1950s. Yves Saint Laurent is released in UK cinemas on 21st March 2014.

Non-Stop

Liam Neeson has really carved out a niche as an abrasive but meritorious action hero of late. Non-Stop continues this trend, as the above clip from the movie illustrates. Also starring Julianne Moore and Lupita Nyong’o, Non-Stop hits UK screens on 28th February 2014.

The Grand Budapest Hotel

The Grand Budapest Hotel seems to be ticking all the boxes. Writer-director Wes Anderson is most admirable, and the cast, including the excellent Bill Murray, is enviable. Also, there’s a cat. The Grand Budapest Hotel is released in the UK on 7th March 2014.

Divergent

Based on the best-selling novel, Divergent stars Shailene Woodley, Miles Teller and Kate Winslet. The sci-fi film is set in a future where people are divided into factions based on their personality. Divergent hits UK screens on 4th April 2014.

G.B.F.

G.B.F. looks like a fun, high school-set comedy. The film is directed by Darren Stein, who helmed late nineties black comedy Jawbreaker. I’m hoping for the same kind of satirical style from G.B.F., which is released in cinemas on 21st March, and is available on demand on 22nd March 2014.

5 Reasons to Watch Behind the Candelabra

When I heard a Liberace biopic was being made, I clutched my rhinestone-encrusted cape with excitement. Behind the Candelabra is based on Scott Thorson’s autobiographical novel about his relationship with the flamboyant entertainer. Here are five reasons to watch Behind the Candelabra when it is released in cinemas on 7th June 2013…

1. The Outfits

Look at this magnificent outfit. The costumes are reason enough to watch Behind the Candelabra. The rings, ruffled sleeves, the bejewelled fur-lined cape. Librace was famed for his outfits, so the film is bound to feature several of show-stopping looks. Get ready to take notes.

2. The Hair

Rob Lowe can really work a feathered bob. I don’t think he has ever looked better. Behind the Candelabra is set in 1977, so expect hairspray, feathering, and volume like no other.

3. The Cast and Director

The enviable cast is another reason to watch Behind the Candelabra. Michael Douglas looks ever inch the part as showman Liberace, while Matt Damon always delivers a solid performance. Dan Aykroyd and Rob Lowe are two other big-name members of the cast. Although I haven’t been overly impressed by some of Steven Soderbergh’s recent efforts (I am yet to see Side Effects, but Magic Mike and Haywire were below par), however his pedigree does add a certain allure to this project.

4. Librace

Behind the Candelabra is about the incomparable Liberace. One of my (and surely everyone else’s) idols, Liberace was exactly what an entertainer should be: flamboyant, talented, and not without a whiff of controversy. If you require another reason to watch Behind the Candelabra, check out the above clip of Liberace on The Muppet Show from 1978.

5. Librace’s Dog

Look at this dog. Look at its collar. Being Liberace’s dog must have been the greatest vocation on Earth. To be surrounded by that much glamour and that many sequins would make my heart explode. On top of everything else, viewers get to soak up the magnetism of this canine in Behind the Candelabra. Spectacular.

Film Review: Yogi Bear

An inoffensive live-action feature of the beloved Hanna-Barbera cartoon, Yogi Bear is sure to satisfy the young audience it is intended for. Older cinemagoers would be wise to view it as the harmless fluff it is.

Jellystone Park is due to celebrate its 100th anniversary, but Yogi Bear and his sidekick Boo Boo are more interested in stealing picnic baskets, as usual. When Mayor Brown threatens to close Jellystone, Ranger Smith enlists the help of Yogi and Boo Boo, as well as zoologist Rachel…

The premise of Yogi Bear is fairly standard; most of what occurs is predictable family movie fare. Nevertheless, the pacing is good, and with a sprightly running time of eighty minutes, the film is just the ticket. Although there are some very apparent messages, the tone of the film never becomes heavy.

Much of the humour will appeal to younger audience members, although there are some jokes that have a wider appeal. Yogi Bear does not seem to have the emphasis on entertaining adults as well as children, unlike Toy Story 3 or Megamind, for example. Notwithstanding, the light entertainment the film offers is certainly watchable for an older audience, even though is more amusing than hilarious. Furthermore, Yogi Bear makes references to 2001: A Space Odyssey and Superman, which are probably lost on younger viewers.

At its heart, Yogi Bear is unequivocal in the messages it sends. Characters are predominantly painted in contrasting colours. Mayor Brown is greedy and not enterprising, while Ranger Smith is honest and endearing. Yogi Bear promotes environmentalism over capitalism; unabashedly depicting those in power as corrupt, and elevating green issues above financial gain. However, Yogi Bear does not appear overly political in this endeavour; rather the film provides young viewers with a strong moral to the story.

The CGI effects used to create Yogi and Boo-Boo look decent in 3D. The characters are very detailed, particularly in the contours of their fur. Although the two appear natural in their surroundings, at some points it is clear that the actors are performing with green screen. The 3D is employed with gimmicky effect, functioning in much the same way as its use in The Final Destination or My Bloody Valentine.

Dan Aykroyd and Justin Timberlake sound appropriate as Yogi and Boo Boo. Nonetheless, they are parts that could have been given to any unknown voice actors; it is unclear what they bring to a feature such as Yogi Bear. Anna Faris brings her usual quirkiness as Rachel, while Tom Cavanagh is uninspired as Ranger Smith.

Yogi Bear is an entertaining film, but one that clearly has young children in mind. Although it is unlikely to be classed as one of the year’s best films, it is nevertheless an enjoyable eighty-minute watch.