[star rating=”3″] BLOCKERS. Directed by Kay Cannon. With Leslie Mann, John Cena, Ike Barinholtz, Kathryn Newton, Geraldine Viswanathan and Gideon Adlon.
This one wasn’t half as bad as I expected. The storyline sounds dire – three teenage girls plan to lose their virginity on prom night, but their parents of get wind of the plot and try to stop them. Uurgh, right? But actually, Blockers turned out to be kind of sweet. The kids and their families didn’t fit a conventional CIS-gendered format, and there was a cool message about there being (unfair) different standards for boys and girls when it comes to sexual choices. Sure, it’s a little crude and silly at times (the beer enema scene springs to mind), but I’m not the target audience, and I think teens will like it. – Karen Rutter
[star rating=”3″] 7 DAYS IN ENTEBBE. Directed by José Padilha with Rosamund Pike, Daniel Brühl and Eddie Marsan.
7 Days in Entebbe is based on a true event which took place in 1976. German revolutionaries joined forces with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine to highjack a plane, fly it to Uganda, and demand the release of Palestinian prisoners and $5 million dollars in exchange for the Jewish and Israeli hostages. The Israelis, while negotiating, organised a military operation to rescue the hostages, and on day seven, they executed the daring mission. This version gets it stylistically right – the set, costume, hair, and 70s detail are very memorable. The smoking on the plane (and everywhere else), the multi-coloured carpets, and the old-fashioned passports create authenticity, and the planes and guns and vehicles are perfect. However, the story lacks cohesion, the Palestinians and Ugandans are one-dimensional, and the use of different languages is confusing. Bonus Features: The Entebbe Team, Inside the Raid and more.– Megan Furniss
[star rating=”2.5″] LIFE OF THE PARTY. Directed by Ben Falcone with Melissa McCarthy, Gillian Jacobs and Maya Rudolph.
I just love, love, love Melissa McCarthy – and having her team up, albeit fractionally, with Maya Rudolph is such a glorious match. But Life of the Party doesn’t count as one of Melissa’s finest moments. She plays a middle-aged mum whose husband dumps her. She returns to college to finish her degree – joining her daughter at the same school. Things are awkward at first, but then Melissa becomes the belle of the ball, and finally both mum and daughter get their mojo on. It’s pretty trite stuff, relying on gags like both women doing a morning walk-of-shame from the same frat house, for laughs. The movie even falls back on that old stalwart – having an ‘80s party – when all else fails. It’s easy enough on the eye, but Melissa’s not even half as funny as her parts in Bridesmaids or Tammy. Bonus features: ’80s Party, Gag Reel, Deleted Scenes and more. – Karen Rutter
[star rating=”2.5″] INXEBA: THE WOUND. Directed by John Trengove. Written by Malusi Bengu, Thando Mgqolozana and John Trengove, with Nakhane Touré, Bongile Mantsai and Niza Jay.
A South African film exploring gay relationships and masculinity is to be welcomed. Inxeba has been shown at film festivals around the world, picking up many awards along the way. It was the official South African entry for the Best Foreign Language film at the Oscars in 2018, making a shortlist of nine but eventually failing to be nominated. Inxeba is the story of two men, Xolani (Nakhane Touré) and Vija (Bongile Mantsai), who meet up every year in the mountains of the Eastern Cape to assist in the initiation of Xhosa teenage boys into manhood. An initiate from the city (Niza Jay) discovers their secret relationship and Xolani’s life unravels. The film attracted much controversy when it was released in South Africa, for its exposure of supposed homosexuality at the traditional initiation camps. However, the film ultimately disappoints – the writers, director and cinematographer failed to come across with the best finished product. It’s still an important film, but could have been so much better. – Richard Lowndes
WS
