The Boss Baby Out Now on DVD

From the director of  Madagascar and Megamind, Tom McGrath, comes a laugh out loud adventure-comedy all about family and belonging. THE BOSS BABY features the voice talents of an all star cast including Alec Baldwin, Steve Buscemi, Jimmy Kimmel, Lisa Kudrow and Tobey Maguire.

Tim Templeton is a much loved little boy with a big imagination, whose life is turned upside down by the arrival of his new baby brother. He soon discovers that his problems go way beyond regular sibling rivalry, and his new brother is actually an undercover boss from a secret organisation called BabyCorp who is on an important mission involving Tim's parents and the launch of a new, super cute pet from their employers Puppy Co. Tim realises that if he helps the Boss Baby to complete his mission, he can get rid of him and go back to being an only child again. An exciting adventure ensues where Tim and the Boss Baby discover the evil truth behind Puppy Co and learn to work together to save the day, leading them to re-evaluate what it is that they really want in life.

The Boss Baby is heartwarming and hilarious in equal measure. Freddy aged 8 thought it was a "great, funny and imaginative" movie with his favourite part of the whole film being when the baby farts out talcum powder when Tim is getting him dressed. There is a lot of baby centric visual humour, which is very enjoyable and beautifully observed. The characters are interesting and the dynamic between Tim and the baby explores the subject of sibling rivalry, family, love and belonging. There is a lovely message in the film where we learn that there is always enough love in the world for everyone.  It really is a great watch for the whole family and perfect entertainment for the summer holidays.

THE BOSS BABY Blu-ray™, Blu-ray 3D, 4K Ultra HD and DVD each include more than 30 minutes of extras, which we really enjoyed watching after the film:

●     NEW Mini Adventure: The Boss Baby and Tim’s Treasure Hunt Through Time ­– Narrated by Wizzie, the magical wizard. Join the fun as Boss Baby and Tim battle pirates, travel through outer space, swim deep into the sea, and go toe-to-toe with some ferocious dinosaurs!

●     The Forever Puppy Infomercial – Always playful, always snuggly, and everlastingly cute; the Forever Puppy is destined to win the cuteness competition with babies once and for all.

●     BabyCorp and You – Helpful advice and more for new infants on the job at BabyCorp.

●     Babies vs. Puppies: Who Do You Love? – Who has won the hearts of familes once and for all? This “scientific” experiment compares and contrasts factors such as “cuddliness,” “adorability,” and “attention grabbing techniques” used by both demanding competitors.

●     The Boss Baby's Undercover Team – From Staci, the note taker who can’t read, to Jimbo the huge baby who’ll take a suction cup arrow for the Boss, to the triple-threat of the Triplets, Boss Baby dives deeper into this team of cute corporate board members.

●     Cookies are for Closers: Inside BabyCorp – Go behind the scenes with Director Tom McGrath as he introduces us to BabyCorp, a secret organization of infants united for a common goal in

THE BOSS BABY.

●     The Great Sibling Competition – A fun, kid-friendly and humorous look at the competition among siblings to win the affection of their parents. Explore conversations with the cast and crew on their competitive sibling relationships and get very special insights from Boss Baby himself, Alec Baldwin.

DreamWorks Animation’s THE BOSS BABY is available now on Digital Download, Blu-ray^™ and DVD, from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. 

Nine Lives out on DVD plus some Cool Cat Facts

This Christmas, treat the family to the new feline caper Nine Lives, which follows the escapades of a businessman who becomes trapped in the body of the family's new pet cat. 

Tom Brand, a successful billionaire businessman has grown distant from his wife and daughter. Obsessed with developing the highest building in the Northern hemisphere, he arrogantly pursues his career at the expense of those around him. When he forgets to buy his daughter Rebecca a present for her 11th birthday he rushes off to try and find the gift she most wants, a pet cat. He finds himself in a mystical pet store run by eccentric owner, Felix Perkins (played wonderfully by Christopher Walken). He has the perfect pet for him: fluffy feline, Mr. Fuzzypants.

On his way back to his daughter's party, Tom is called to his tower block, where he and the cat are involved in a freak accident. Tom regains consciousness to discover that his mind has somehow become trapped inside the body of the cat. He watches as his body is wheeled away into an ambulance in a coma. 

Mr Fuzzypants comes home to live in the family home and it takes Tom some time to adjust to cat life, resulting in some very funny moments. Tom quickly realises that occupying the body of a pet cat can be a blessing as he gets to spend more time with his family and gets to know his daughter. He soon learns what is important in life and is prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice for his loved ones.

Nine Lives is a purrfectly heart-warming tale about the importance of family and our furry friends.

NINE LIVES is out to own on Blu-ray & DVD from 12th December, 2016, courtesy of Lionsgate Home Entertainment.

The Nine Lives DVD will make a great gift for the cat lover in your life. How about creating a gift basket containing cat goodies and a copy of the DVD?

Cool Cat Facts

To celebrate the release of Nine Lives here's some cool cat facts courtesy of the feline charity Cats Protection.

SLEEP – Cats sleep upwards of 15 hours a day. They laze about a good portion of the day and expend their energy in bursts nearer dawn and dusk as that is when they typically hunt.

KNEADING – Cats knead or paw at the ground when they are happy in a habit leftover from kittenhood.

TOMS AND QUEENS – A male cat is often referred to as a ‘Tom’, while a female cat is called a ‘Queen’.

HEARING - Cats can hear sounds up to 77,000 Hertz, even higher than dogs and much higher than humans. Most cats will respond to noises their owners can’t even hear.

KINDLE AND CLOWDER – A ‘Kindle’ is a group of kittens and a ‘Clowder’ is a group of adult cats.

LANDING ON THEIR FEET – All cats carry an incredible ability to right themselves in mid-air and turn to land on their feet when falling. Handy for learning to climb trees.

HEIGHTS – Cats like finding high perches where they can survey their surroundings from above. Cats Protection suggests making sure your cat has access to resting places that give it a good view of the rest of the room.

HEAD RUB– Cats say hello to each other by rubbing their heads or side of their bodies on each other. So if they do this to you, they like you!

SUNBURN – Cats can get sunburn. Most cats love to laze in the sunshine, but light-haired cats are susceptible to sunburn. Cats Protection suggests asking a vet for recommended non-toxic sun creams that are safe for furry felines.

The Gift - Film Review

"Not Every Gift Is Welcome" - but this DVD will be!

This Christmas, any film fans will be glad to get The Gift on DVD or Blu-ray to add to their collection. The hit chilling thriller from the producer of The Purge was loved by cinema goers and critics, who gave it 93% on Rotten Tomatoes!

The film stars Jason Bateman as Simon, a successful businessman, who is making a fresh start with his wife Robyn in a new house in the Californian hills. With a job promotion on the cards, everything is going well. That is until a chance meeting with an old high school friend Gordo, played by Joel Edgerton, (who also wrote and directed the movie) sets into motion a series of events that sends their world into a harrowing tailspin.

Uninvited visits, mysterious gifts left outside the door and strange encounters prove unsettling, but when a dark secret from the past is uncovered, the situation escalates and unravels the lives of everyone involved. As Robyn learns the shocking truth about Simon and Gordo's shared past, she begins to question just how well she knows those closest to her.

The plot of The Gift is full of suspense with a few proper jumpy moments to keep the tension high. The film doesn't rely on big special effects or gimmicks to tell the story, instead it relies on great acting, a compelling script and quality storytelling. It keeps you fully immersed and guessing until the end, as you share Robyn's confusion and doubts as she searches for the truth. Is Gordo a dangerous creep and a threat to the couple or is he a misunderstood loner looking for closure?

Special Features:

·         Karma For Bullies

·         The Darker Side of Jason Bateman

·         Deleted Scenes

·         Alternate Ending (Blu-ray exclusive)

Certificate 15

Run time 105 minutes

Lionsgate UK Releases The Gift on Digital HD November 30th and Blu-ray & DVD December 7th, 2015.

Dino Time Film Review

Dinosaur mad, adventure loving Ernie has a list-loving, controlling and overprotective mum, whose rules he is constantly trying to bend, getting him into some trouble along the way!

Ernie, his tag along, tale telling sister Julia and best friend Max soon end up in some major prehistoric trouble when they accidentally activate a time machine by spilling soda on the controls and get sent 65 million years back in time right into the middle of a nest of dinosaur eggs. Thankfully, they are accepted by mummy T-Rex Tyra as family and not food. She looks after motherless dinosaurs and takes the kids in as her own. Meanwhile, the evil Sarco Brothers are looking to destroy Tyra and take over the Upper Valley where she lives. This leads to a 'Di-Normous' adventure.

Ernie's mum and Max's inventor dad work together on their rescue plan (with the help from a little message from the past) and join forces with the children to help save the day and defeat the evil Sarco brothers before they are all history! Everyone learns something about themselves during their prehistoric adventure: Ernie realises the importance of honesty and thinking of others, while his mum learns to let go a little.

Dino Time is nicely illustrated with quirky characters. There is some great dialogue from the dinosaurs that appear in addition to the main characters. the film boasts an all star cast with Melanie Griffiths, Stephen and William Baldwin and Jane Lynch among the voice talents. There are some exciting animated sequences and some scenes featuring mild peril during the adventure, which kept Freddy on the edge of his seat. He also loved the humour and giggled his way through some scenes (the farting creature was quite predictably a big hit and raised a full on belly laugh!) Dodger was his favourite character and the very last scene of the film, featuring this cheeky, little dinosaur, made Freddy give out a little cheer!

        

Dino Time comes to cinemas from May 22nd, 2015 and DVD and digital platforms from June 1st, 2015 courtesy of Signature Entertainment.

Certificate PG

Running time 86 minutes

Annie - Film Review

The newly released DVD of Annie, takes an old classic movie and brings it bang up to date for a whole new audience. Introducing a savvy and streetwise foster kid in the main role, this 2014 remake shakes up the story while still keeping the iconic songs and the heart and soul of the original movie.

Starring Cameron Diaz as the mean Miss Hannigan and Jamie Foxx as tycoon and mayoral candidate Will Stacks, the film boasts a great cast, but young Quvenzhané Wallis is the star of the show.

Annie is a kid growing up in the foster care system under the guardianship of disillusioned and cold hearted Miss Hannigan, when she inadvertently becomes the focus of hard-nosed Stacks' mayoral campaign. Following a near miss accident, where a video of him saving Annie's life goes viral, he is advised to foster her, in a thinly veiled PR stunt to advance his popularity. Although Annie is obsessed with finding her birth parents, she happily embraces her opportunity and soon gets under the skin of Stack and becomes more than just a way to advance his election campaign. A genuine affection soon forms between the pair, as she breathes life into his stuffy world. However, there are some people who want to exploit the situation for their own agenda, threatening to destroy the relationship between Annie and Stack.

This is a fresh and upbeat remake, with the original songs reworked and choreographed for a new, modern audience. It is a story of hope, love and redemption with a few funny moments thrown in. I liked the nods to the impact of social media in the mayoral campaign, which made the film feel very current.

So, the script is a bit corny and the acting is in parts a bit hammy, but it's a family film made to entertain the masses and it does its job well. It doesn't try to explore the realism of what it means to be in the care system, and the cruelty dealt out to the foster children by Miss Hannigan is played for laughs and not taken as a serious threat.

My daughter Kezia really enjoyed it and found the happy ending truly heartwarming.

Annie is out now on DVD from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

Ribbit DVD Review

Fun new animated family film RIBBIT is out to own on DVD and 3D Blu-ray from today, featuring the voice talents of TIM CURRY (Legend) and SEAN ASTIN (The Lord of The Rings). 

Ribbit is a frog with a serious identity crisis. Unlike other frogs, he hates hopping and he hates water! Along with his best friend, Sandy the flying squirrel, he embarks on a soul-searching journey of discovery, encountering a variety of colourful characters – both friend and foe – along the way.

When Ribbit is hypnotised, he starts to believe that he isn't actually a frog at all, but a handsome prince trapped inside an amphibian's body. He sets off on a mission to kiss a human princess to break the spell, but the adventure that he has hopped into may just make him realise who he really is inside and help him discover his rightful place in the world.

Ribbit is the reject in the Amazon Rainforest, the creature who has always knew he was different from everybody else, so you immediately root for him as the underdog. The film is filled with action and adventure, plenty of laughs and some danger! The story is ultimately a tale of friendship, self discovery and being true to yourself.

The film is colourful, the Amazon setting is lush and the characters are quirky. Freddy enjoyed it!  It's a great family film to watch together and we all thought it was cute that Sean Astin's real life daughter Ali was the voice of the princess - a bit of a family affair!

RIBBIT disc information:

Running Time: 81 minutes approx.

RRP: DVD from £10 / 3D Blu-ray from £13

Certificate: PG

Special Features: “Magical Moment” Music Video: Az Yet & Jaclyn Victor

Making of Ribbit

Copyright line: ©2014 KRU INTERNATIONAL SDN BHD. All Rights Reserved. ©2014 Lionsgate Home Entertainment UK.

It's a Bing Thing! - New Bing DVD now available

For the first time, much to the delight of my son Freddy, Bing is available on DVD.  Bing is a cute little black rabbit, who has adventures with his carer Flop and his friends Coco, Charlie, Pando and Sula.  Based on the books by Ted Dewan, Bing celebrates the noisy, joyful messy reality of being a small child.

Freddy watches a Bing on BBC iPlayer every night before bed.  He loves the storytelling and each episode comes with an important message, teaching children social skills about friendship, sharing and taking turns. Each story ends with the reassuring "It's a Bing thing!" message.

BING will be available on DVD for the very first time on March 30th, and fans can enjoy the following episodes:

Swing, Bye Bye, Ducks, Growing, Hide & Seek, Lost, Frog, Bake, Atchoo! and VooVoo.

Filled with gentle humour, energy, wonder and everyday dramas, that little ones and their parents will recognise, the stories are told from Bing's perspective.

The DVD also contains a ‘Grow With Bing’ height chart – a perfect addition to the play room so you can see how your little one grows!

Cert. U 

RRP: £9.99

Fairytale - A True Story

The infamous, true story of the Cottingley fairies inspired a media circus back in 1917. Cousins Elsie and Frances claimed to have discovered fairies living in a meadow and took photographs showing the winged creatures as they played with them. The girls' claims catapult the family into fame as the imagination of the public is well and truly captured by the images. The family face a barrage of scrutiny from sceptical journalists and curious members of the public, and celebrities such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Harry Houdini become involved in the magical mystery.

This 1997 film is loosely based on the true life story and boasts a star studded cast including Peter O'Toole, Harvey Keitel, Paul McGann and Bill Nighy.

The issue of whether the photos are real or faked, challenges the beliefs of all involved. Some want to believe with all their hearts, others stringently attempt to disprove their authenticity, steadfastly refusing to publicly acknowledge the existence of fairies.

In the aftermath of World War I, both girls have suffered personal tragedies in their lives, but their imagination, innocence and sense of wonder leads them into this incredible journey.  The time is right for the world to want to believe in magic and to recapture its innocence.

 In the real life version of events, the photos are renounced as fakes, but the film is more open minded to the fairies' existence and to life's mysteries. This allows a real sense of wonder and magic to be brought into the storytelling.

This film is beautifully shot and the gentle story and excellent acting go together to produce an enchanting family movie. It also makes the viewer think about whether perhaps there is more to the world than meets the eye, and makes us question to what extent our cynicism prevent us from finding out about it. As grown-ups we lose our ability to truly believe. This film reminds us that perhaps we should remember how to make the impossible possible again.

This lovely film is available on DVD on March 23rd 2015 courtesy of Icon Film Distribution, rated certificate U.

Fairytale - Story of the Seven Dwarves Film Review

We received a review copy of Fairytale - Story of the Seven Dwarves from Signature Entertainment. Last night, we sat down down to watch it together.

From the moment it begun, Freddy was riveted as it contained many of the things he loves in movies: catchy songs, toe-tapping dancing, fun characters and slapstick visual humour.  It brings together the stars of lots of our favourite fairytales as they come together for Princess Rose aka Sleeping Beauty's 18th birthday.  The kids loved picking out characters such as Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf from the party guests.

Bobo, the youngest and clumsiest dwarf accidentally causes Sleeping Beauty to prick her finger, unleashing the curse and sending the kingdom into an icy slumber.  The dwarves must then embark on the adventure of a lifetime and find her one true love Jack, of the beanstalk fame, so he can break the wicked Snow Queen Dellamorta's spell. Unfortunately, he is being held captive by the Snow Queen's terrifying dragon.

Although we all hold Disney as the beacon of animated films, I think there is plenty of room in the marketplace for studios that do things a little differently.  I really liked the slightly quirky animated characterisation of the cast, and enjoyed the way the dwarves were not Disney replicas but were brand new characters in their own right.  We loved the visual humour and non-stop gags, and the portrayal of the princesses as typical teen girls was refreshing. Snow White is really quite foxy, which was an interesting twist! The original songs added an element of fun to the film and were quite catchy. Some of the jokes were definitely thrown in with a knowing wink to the grown-ups, which allows adults to enjoy a private titter as the little ones giggle at the more obvious comedic moments.

There were scenes that delivered some mild peril that got Freddy really engrossed in the dwarves' adventures.  He also loved Burner the tap dancing dragon and thought Bobo was really funny!  Dellamorta, who was often seen coming creepily out of her mirror and who spoke with a rather sinister voice, made a very passable villain.

The film delivered its fairytale ending with a good dose of romance.

It's not often that Freddy sits and watches a whole film without being distracted by something else, but this movie absolutely engaged him for the entire duration.

Fairytale-Story of the Seven Dwarves is out on March 16th on DVD.  It is 84 minutes long and is rated a PG.

          

The Unbeatables - Film Review

If you have kids who love football, The Unbeatables is the perfect film for them!  The Unbeatables tells the story of young Amadeo, a boy with a talent for table football who humiliates the local bully Flash, by beating him at the game.  Fast forward 10 years, and Flash is a soccer superstar (who bears a bit of a resemblance to Ronaldo!) who is hellbent on revenge and set to destroy their hometown and turn the area into a football stadium.  Amadeo may have been accomplished at table football, but he is not quite as accomplished in life and love and Flash's return challenges him to man up in an attempt to save the town, win the girl and discover his inner strength.

When Flash destroys Amadeo's beloved table football, it is Amadeo's tears that magically bring the footballers to life and they are ready to play for his honour.  It is the little lead footballers who steal the show with their witty dialogue and distinct personalities (similarities to real life football legends can't be ignored), as they help lead Amadeo and his team of misfit town folk as they take on the might of Flash in the ultimate football showdown.

The film was originally a massive hit in its home country Argentina.  Being a foreign film, the English dubbing sometimes doesn't quite fit and the dialogue can seem a little odd at times as the script tries to fit the lip synch, which annoyed Ian but didn't bother me or Freddy at all.  The voice talents of Rupert Grint, Anthony Head, Ralf Little and Rob Brydon more than made up for this issue. The Latin American setting with the English references sometimes jarred a little, but again it didn't bother me.  It's easy to suspend your belief and just enjoy the fun and adventure.

The Unbeatables climax is the big football match between Flash's team and Amadeo's team.  It is beautifully and inventively animated and the commentary is spot on. I loved the imagery of the townsfolk as they played for their town, which gave rise to some great visual humour! It is a very long scene with real time action that footie fans will love.  The result is not the predictable ending I expected and it raises some very valuable life lessons about what it means to really win.

The football centric storyline makes this DVD a great watch for young footie fans.  The adventures that Rico, Loco, Skip and the other table footballers get into adds some real magic and excitement into the mix.  The story is quite unique and overall it is an enjoyable, sporty, animated film with a difference.  However, if your kids aren't into football, this film probably won't interest them, Kizzy refused to watch it - but you can't please everyone!!

The Unbeatables is available on Blu-ray and DVD from 9^th February 2015, courtesy of Vertigo Films

The Nut Job - Film Review

The Nut Job is a beautifully animated film featuring the voice talents of Will, Arnett, Brendan Fraser, Liam Neeson and Katherine Heigl.  The plot hinges around Surly the Squirrel who after a series of events is blamed for destroying the animals' winter nut stash and finds himself banished from his group.  In the city, he discovers a new supply and plans a nut heist that runs concurrently to a real life bank heist masterminded by some pretty mean bank robbers.  Surly comes up with a plan to get the nuts and gets a motley crew together to pull off the job.  As the heists progress and things get more complicated, it is up to the animals to unite in order to foil the robbers, get the nuts and save the day.  Prepare for an action packed, fun filled adventure with funny and furry woodland critters!

There are some cute critters, lots of visual humour, some nut puns and a few fart related gags, which get the kids giggling. There is a beautiful rodentesque bromance, lots of tested friendships and some moral growth to add some depth to the plot progression.  With a corrupt raccoon who needs to learn a big life lesson, some gassy groundhogs and a self-serving squirrel who needs to discover his inner good guy, there are some interesting characters in this charmingly good-natured film.  

The animation is really lovely, with a comforting retro feel that harks back to the cartoon classics. The attention to detail is really good and there is a lot to look it in every scene. The use of music is effective and the animals dancing to Gangnam Style was a real high point for Freddy who jumped up to join in.  The end credits also featured this catchy tune along with a little cartoon Psy!  You can't help but smile.

The kids, Kizzy 12 and Freddy 5, enjoyed their Saturday afternoon showing of The Nut Job. Thankfully,we are not offended by toilet humour, slapstick scenes, explosions and cheap gags which are the mainstay of the comedy, so we all happily laughed along with the characters' antics.  There is a mass of kid appeal and a lovely underlying moral message in this fun filled and action packed  movie. This film appeals to both children and to the young at heart.

Some of the film seemed a little familiar with plot similarities to Over the Hedge and characters that seem to be influenced by Ratatouille's Remy and Ice Age's Scrat. But I found enough original and comic content to make this an enjoyable and amusing watch, with plenty of laughs, lots of action and some touching scenes.

The Nut Job is released on December 8th from Warner Home Video.  It is 86 minutes long and has a U certificate. It is available on DVD and Blu-ray and also in stunning Blu-ray 3D.

It will be a perfect stocking filler and is a great film for a festive family movie night.

I was sent a copy of the film to review and Tweeted my thoughts using #TheNutJobMovie.

Earth to Echo - Film Review

Tuck, Munch and Alex are a trio of close knit friends living in a small town due to be destroyed by a highway construction project, which means their families have to move out of the neighbourhood. When the boys start receiving strange encoded messages on their mobile phones, they set about trying to solve the mystery. On their last night together, the boys embark on an epic adventure into the desert that leads to an amazing discovery...an alien trying to find his way home.

The boys, joined by school friend Emma, have to help the alien, that they call Echo, to rebuild his device, find his ship and protect him from the government agents who are hot on their heels.

Their journey is documented by Tuck for his video channel, and the film uses this 'found footage' along with a first person narrative as a vehicle for the story.  This format keeps it all very pacy and relevant to its young target audience.

The film has been hailed as 'ET for a new generation'.  There are definite glimpses of ET, Flight of the Navigator and Batteries Not Included in this movie, but the main character Echo takes a bit of a backseat to the overriding theme of friendship and growing up.  I would have liked to have seen more of Echo, because when he did do things, it was really impressive!  He is also a really cute little creature and I would have liked to explore his story a bit more.

The young cast are great and the relationship between them felt authentic.  Their friendship and the threat of losing their homes and each other is explored through their experience with Echo.  It's a coming of age movie where the children learn the true meaning of loyalty, friendship and courage as they strive to do what is ultimately the right thing (even if that entails the slightly dubious activities of breaking and entering, trespassing and car theft!)

There are a few great action sequences.  But I was left wanting more because Echo's ability to manipulate metal objects created some awesome moments and ingenious special effects.  One particular scene involving a close shave with a lorry was simply brilliant.

All in all, this is a great film for older children who will enjoy the human element of the story and the coming of age adventure that the four kids go through.  The sci-fi element is not the biggest part of the film and the alien is not the lead character, but it provides the background to the plot and gives the characters the life lessons that leads them to summise that friendship is friendship, no matter how many miles lie between you, and that you can make a difference in this world.


         


Release date November 17th 2014.
Certificate PG

Pudsey the Dog - The Movie reviewed

To be honest, when I heard that they were making a film starring Pudsey the Dog from BGT fame I was expecting something as awful and cheesy as Simon Cowell's X Factor put downs.  However, I was willing to give it a go for the sake of the kids' entertainment.  Surprisingly enough, I ended up quite enjoying this family movie and found myself actually laughing out loud on more than one occasion!  Yes it's a very familiar and predictable plot and the humour is very slapstick and old school, but there is something that is quite quintessentially British and charming about it. The film reminded me of some films and TV shows from my childhood with vibes of Digby and 70's sitcoms and kids' TV in the plot and the action sequences. So there was an air of nostalgia about the presentation of the film.  It is a movie made for kids, scripted in a very kids' TV channel way. There is no hidden agenda or multi-layered interpretation of the plot, it's a case of what you see is what you get, and what you get is actually quite enjoyable!

The story is based around the mischievous little dog Pudsey, who escapes from his solo life and embarks on an adventure when he comes across siblings Molly, Tommy and George. Jumping in to their moving van as the family are leaving for a new life in the country after the loss of their father, Pudsey ends up living with them in the aptly named Tumbledown Farm.  Cue a corrupt landlord, Mr Thorne, with a hatred for dogs and an evil plan to destroy the Chuffington farmhouse and you have the basis for the plot.

Of course, Pudsey saves the day and along the way he helps the damaged younger brother to find his voice, fixes the broken family, helps save a life and is instrumental in some romance. He also causes mayhem at the Chuffington Fete, destroys the local dog pound, ruins a world record breaking pie, foils Thorne's evil plan and induces a nervous breakdown.  All in a day's work!

Pudsey is voiced by David Walliams, keeping with the BGT and Cowell connection.  Other stars include John Sessions, Jessica Hynes and Jim Tavare. With a feel of Babe meets Lassie with a smidgen of Benny Hill slapstick thrown in for good measure, the actors turn in a good panto style performance.  Pudsey delivers his scenes with canine professionalism and does a bit of his trademark walking on hind legs, but there isn't too much of his 'dancing' involved in the story as I would have expected from a Pudsey movie.

All in all, I found it quite enjoyable.  If you are expecting something high brow or subtly scripted, forget it.  But if you want some lighthearted fun, some amusing animals (especially the 'egg laying' pig), some slapstick visual comedy, a predictable but gently satisfying plot and kid friendly storytelling then you will probably be entertained by this rural romp.

PUDSEY IS AVAILABLE ON DVD FROM 10th NOVEMBER, COURTESY OF EONE

Pacific Rim Film Review

If you are a fan of giant monsters fighting giant robots in a sci-fi blockbuster (imagine Godzilla fighting a Transformer) then Pacific Rim is definitely the film for you!  When alien/reptilian creatures, the Kaiju, rise from a portal in the ocean and attack the world, the human race fights back using huge robots called Jaegars which are controlled by pilots who merge their minds with the machines in the 'drift'.  The pilots are heralded as heroes as they battle the monsters in the ultimate war, but the Kaiju are just too powerful and relentless an enemy.

With the humans heading for defeat, the future of the world lies in the hands of a disillusioned ex-pilot Charlie who is brought back to his role following the death of his brother, and a young female trainee Mori who lost her parents to the Kaiju as a child.

But it's not all just impressive fight scenes (although 80% of the film really is given over to the amazing special effects of Kaiju vs Jaegar). The backflash scene of Mori's childhood was actually really moving and well done, as it unlocks the relationship between her and the commander played by Idris Elba.  Comic relief is provided by a pair of nerdy scientists (one of whom is Torchwood's Burn Gorman) who play it for laughs as they attempt to connect with the Kaiju in the drift. 

But the real beauty of this film is the thrill ride that is the raging war of monster against man with its mind blowing action scenes and seamless special effects.  It is edge of your seat stuff that transports you to the excitement of the epic monster movies from your childhood.  Pure escapism!

The sound and picture quality of the Blu-Ray is amazing and packs a real punch!  Guillermo del Toro directs this film with passion, flair and a sense of humour, appealing to the wide eyed child inside us all.

We really enjoyed it...all 131 minutes of action and excitement.  It's a big, loud film that you can't help but enjoy. Forget realism, forget complex plotlines and forget Oscar winning acting.  Just immerse yourself into the action and let the battle commence.

Pacific Rim is out on November 11th and is available from Amazon and other good DVD/Blu-ray stockists.

A great Christmas present for the sci-fi fan in your life!!

We received a disc to review for this post.

The Big Wedding Film Review

"Marriage is like a phone call in the night.  First you get the ring, then you wake up!"  This is one of the opening lines spoken by Robert De Niro in this star studded movie, The Big Wedding from Lionsgate.  It pretty much sets the tone for the film in which long divorced couple Don and Ellie (played by De Niro and Diane Keaton) are forced to play the happy couple once again for the sake of their adopted son when his ultra- conservative, Catholic, Colombian biological mother arrives to attend his wedding.  This creates all kinds of awkward and funny moments as the family are forced to confront their past, present and future during the wedding weekend.

There are many awkward moments throughout the film, some of which are scarily familiar.  The sort of cringeworthy moments that family gatherings have an uncanny knack of bringing out!  There are love triangles, pregnancy issues, celibacy problems, religious conflicts, commitment problems and countless other family issues.  The characters each have a storyline that entwine and come to a head at the wedding.  

The cast carry the film well although some of the roles seem a bit underplayed. Robin Williams doesn't deliver one of his usual OTT performances. Katherine Heigl who is the queen of the rom-com, is under used as big sister Lyla who is separated from her husband and has some serious daddy issues.  De Niro is a bit of a Lothario and a lot of the laughs are down to his overactive sex drive.  If you don't like the idea of older people 'at it' the first 5 minutes may need to be viewed through your fingers. 

We discover that the truth isn't always what it seems and that people will bend the truth in order to protect their loved ones. We also see there are different kinds of love, many of which are explored in this frothy comedy.

For me, Sarandon and Keaton stole the show, demonstrating a good chemistry and sharing some witty acerbic banter between them.  I think this rom com is designed for the older audience who will enjoy watching how the relationships develop and play out.  Although I didn't find it a 'laugh out loud' rom-com, it leaves you feeling pleasantly satisfied and well entertained. It is worth a watch.

The Big Wedding is out on DVD/Blu-ray 14^th October.


                         

Available now to pre-order.

Release date: 14th October 2013

Certificate: 15

Running Time: 89 minutes

We received a check disc to view.

Jack the Giant Slayer Review

I have to confess that I have become more and more of a Nicholas Hoult fan as time has gone by.  I adored Warm Bodies, after all what's not to love about a zombie love story!  So when I received Jack the Giant Slayer to review I was already in a good place to enjoy it.  But I didn't think I'd enjoy quite as much as I did.  I thought it was going to be a bit of a Sunday afternoon kids' movie.  But I was very wrong.  Jack the Giant Slayer is an intensely action packed, dark fairy tale, which actually had me on the edge of my seat.  I got really into it!

The film has all the ingredients needed for a re-telling of the classic children's fairy tale, Jack and the Beanstalk:  a brave and clever farm boy, an adventurous princess/damsel in distress, a noble king, brave knights, a treacherous villain and his murderous sidekick, dark magic and an army of evil giants.

Jack unwittingly sets into action an event which opens a gateway into the sky domain of the giants and reignites an ancient war between the giants and mankind.  The creatures, that Jack thought only existed in legends, are really fearsome beasts who want to reclaim the lands that they lost centuries before.  Lead by a sinister two headed giant, voiced by Bill Nighy, the ferocious giants capture the princess and a rescue mission is undertaken to save her. A battle ensues that threatens to destroy the kingdom and Jack finds himself fighting alongside the king to save the day and protect humanity from this terrible threat.

The CGI giants are really hideous and brilliantly detailed.  Their ferocity is quite extreme and they are happy to pluck up a human and bite their head clean off.  It is really quite violent with a very high body count (although you don't see any actual blood or gore it is obvious that people are being eaten, crushed or thrown to their deaths). There is a lot of sustained threat and tension throughout the story.  So this film is definitely not for little children.

For me, the star of the show was Ewan MacGregor who was perfectly cast as the brave and noble knight Elmont.  His delivery of the lines was perfect and his sarcastic wit was just so British.  The bad guy Roderick, played by Stanley Tucci, was the villain that we loved to hate.  A human whose own agenda trancended everything, and who was prepared to do whatever it took to achieve his aims. His evil smile was perfect. Great casting!

The very end of the film was a stroke of genius, bringing the story into the 21st century and making the audience truly believe in the magic of fairy tales.

I would highly recommend this film to families with older children. Grab some popcorn and have a thrilling family film night!

        


Out to buy now on DVD, Blu-Ray and 3D Blu-Ray.  The film also contains an Ultraviolet copy to add to your collection which can be streamed or downloaded to mobile devices.

Playing for Keeps DVD Review

PLAYING FOR KEEPS Out on DVD and Blu-ray 20th May

Gerard Butler stars in PLAYING FOR KEEPS, a new romantic comedy which comes with a bit of added spice! Out to rent and own on DVD and Blu-ray from 20th May (RRP £15.99/£17.99).

Butler stars as George Dryer, a down-on-his-luck former football star who is desperate to rebuild a relationship with his ex-wife, Stacie, and his young son, Lewis.

In an attempt to put his life back on track and win his family back he starts coaching his son's football team. But football coaching introduces George to the world of football mums!

We were sent a copy to review.  Our first issue was trying to work out what Butler's accent was meant to be  (Scottish??) and then decipher his mumbling dialogue. Secondly, his questionable morals sat a little uneasily in what is meant to be a heart warming rom-com.  I didn't find myself rooting for him at all as he wormed his way back into his ex-wife's affections.  Even when he grows a conscience and starts taking his responsibilities seriously, I struggled to feel that he deserved a second chance with his wife who was about to remarry.  Maybe if the male lead was played by an actor who I find irresistible I'd have felt differently, but I'm just not a fan of Butler in romantic roles.  Sorry!

However, the star studded cast kept us interested.  The women acted well, carrying the storyline, and the kids' football team were very cute. There were some heartwarming moments throughout the film that made us smile. Fans of Butler will undoubtedly enjoy this film which showcases his physique and rugged charm both on and off the pitch.

PLAYING FOR KEEPS INFORMATION:

Released: 20th May 2013
RRP: DVD £15.99 / Blu-ray £17.99
Certificate: 12A
Features: Deleted Scenes / The Playbook: Making Playing for Keeps / Creating An All-Star Team: The Cast of Playing for Keeps

The Croods in 3D

The Croods is the latest Dreamworks movie which tells the story of a pre-historic family as they embark on a  perilous journey through an incredible new world. 

The family have lived by a set of rules in their rocky canyon home to keep them alive.  Protective father Grug (Nicholas Cage) teaches his brood to be afraid of everything in order to stay alive.  They spend all their time in a dark cave with the entrance sealed up with a boulder to keep them safe. Teenager Eep (Emma Stone) has had enough of this life saying it isn't living, instead it's just a way of not dying.  She wants more. One night she sneaks away from her cave home after spotting a mysterious light.  She discovers Guy (Ryan Reynolds),  a more modern human, who can make fire. Eep is fascinated with the 'little sunshine' that Guy has made.  He tells her that the world they know is changing and The End is coming, when the ground will shake and break apart.  He is heading for safety of the higher ground of the mountains.  When their cave home is destroyed by a rock fall, the Croods are forced to join Guy on a crazy road trip through a fantastic world filled with fabulous creatures, to find a safe new place to call home.

We were lucky enough to attend an advance screening of The Croods in 3D at our local Odeon cinema.  Ella, Kizzy and I donned our 3D specs and settled down to enjoy the movie.

The film is visually stunning.  The use of cave paintings to tell the beginning of the story is really effective and is a theme that continues throughout the film.  The Croods are Neanderthals with sloping foreheads and mono-brows but somehow the animators have made them really appealing in a caveman kind of way!  The colours and textures bring the picture to life and the subtle use of 3D isn't too harsh on the eyes.  The fabulous scenery, animals and plants are wonderfully imaginative and the 3D makes you feel like you are looking through a window into their rich and detailed world.  It gives the film depth and immerses you into their environment with its beauty and danger.  You feel the peril of the catastrophic, world changing events and you experience the wonder of The Croods as they see brand new things for the first time.  The portrayal of fire is particularly beautiful in 3D as the embers take to the air.

The relationship between the family members is similar to the dynamics of many modern families and you feel empathy for the characters as you recognise your own traits in them! We see the rebellious teenager and the over-protective father as they clash heads again and again.  The crazy mother-in-law/stubborn son-in-law relationship is often strained and the subject of a fair few gags! (Some things never change!)  Grug's dismay at loved-up Eep's developing relationship with Guy shows his reluctance to let her grow up.  Something I'm sure most dads can relate to as they see their little girl's affections directed to a new man.  However, the over-riding message of the film is one of growth, trust and acceptance.  The bond between family can be one of the strongest and most important things in the world, especially when the rules you have lived by get thrown out of the window!

The emotional journey of the film is really powerful, and yes, me and my girls cried!  It really pulled at the heart strings as you see Grug's acceptance and understanding of the changes going on in his family and in the world as a whole.  Everything he trusted and believed in is challenged, but he finds a capacity for change.  It is really moving!!  

There are lots of funny moments.  Some of my favourite gags came via Guy's dramatic pet sloth 'Belt', so-called because he helps keep his trousers up!  The scene where Grug tries his hand at being an 'ideas' man brings a host of laugh out loud moments as his plans all backfire.  His camera invention was particularly funny!!

The stunning hybrid animals of the imagined pre-historic world are remarkable.  The flesh-eating, swarming, pink piranha birdies were my personal favourite.  The giant, colourful, sabre-toothed tiger style Macawnivore was gorgeously illustrated.  His fur looked positively stroke-able.  The giant, walking land whales were brilliant, and the tiny elephant-mouse was incredibly cute!  

The Croods' journey is fraught with peril as earthquakes and rock slides threaten their every step, but with determination, teamwork and imagination they overcome the obstacles that stand between them and a happy ending.  A perfect metaphor for modern living!

I loved The Croods.  The story really gets going in the second half of the film and is dramatic and exciting.  There is humour for both the children and the adults, and the visual appeal is huge.  Nicholas Cage's Grug was beautifully portrayed as the big, strong protector of his family, who is doing his best to keep them safe using brawn but not brain.  Meeting Guy, who is an ideas man, really challenges everything he believes in.  It is a great story which takes on the universal subject of family beautifully

10 year old Kizzy said, "It was a really enjoyable film and it made me cry.  My favourite character was Guy because he was funny and his pet Belt was adorable.  I loved the way that they wanted to ride the sun to tomorrow and find a better life."

16 year old Ella said, " It was such a good film and I recommend it to families.  Nicholas Cage and Emma Stone were brilliant and well cast as Grug and Eep. The animals were really imaginative and cool."

The Croods goes on general release at cinemas on March 22nd 2013.  

While you wait for it to come to a cinema near you, why not have a go at this activity sheet.  Just click to open it with a bigger image and print it off.  Your kids can learn to write their own name using cave writing!

Or you can help The Croods navigate across the plain in this tricky maze!

You can follow Odeon at Facebook.com/ODEON or tweet them at @ODEONcinemas with the hashtag #ODEONBlogTheCroods if you want to chat about The Croods and join in the fun.

Scooby Doo! Mask of the Blue Falcon DVD Review

Brand new for 2013 comes this latest offering from Warner Bros. featuring Scooby, Shaggy and the gang, Scooby-Doo! Mask of the Blue Falcon.  Scooby Doo is a character whose appeal transcends the generations.  Both the grown-ups and the kids love him, so this original movie really will please the whole family. 

We were sent a copy by Warner Bros. which has been watched and enjoyed by both Daddy and Freddy, a testament to the appeal of Scooby!

The gang are attending the Mega Mondo Pop Cartoon-a-Con where celebrated comic book characters are headlining and a new megabucks Blue Falcon film is premiering.  However a hoarde of evil creatures become released by villainous Mr Hyde, threatening to destroy the event.  It's up to Scooby and co. to solve the clues, unmask the identity of the bad guy.  Faced with sinister slime, monster bats and howling hounds, it's up to Scooby and Shaggy to harness their inner super heroes and save the cartoon-a-con!  There are a few bad guys in the frame so it keeps you guessing!

What is great about this full length feature film is the nods to other cartoon characters at the Cartoon-a-Con.   It is also very refreshing to see the way the film lampoons the whole comic book convention culture and in essence pokes fun at itself. I love a franchise that doesn't take itself too seriously!

The film has a PG certificate and is 73 minutes long.  It is available to purchase from all good retailers now.  The DVD includes an Ultra Violet copy for watching the movie on the go on other devices.  It's a great addition to your online film library in The Cloud.  There are also some bonus vintage cartoons included to keep us grown ups happy!

The DVD is available now from good stockists such as Amazon.

Argo Film Review

One of the most talked about movies this awards season was Argo.  Unsurprisingly it won an amazing amount of accolades including:

BAFTA Awards for Best Film, Best Direction and Best Editing.

Golden Globe Awards for Best Motion Picture- Drama and Best Director – Motion Picture.

Academy Awards for Best Motion Picture of the Year, Best Achievement in Editing and Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published.

The official synopsis of the film is: “Based on true events, Warner Bros. Pictures' and GK Films' dramatic thriller "Argo" chronicles the life-or-death covert operation to rescue six Americans, which unfolded behind the scenes of the Iran hostage crisis—the truth of which was unknown by the public for decades.”

When I was sent a copy of Argo to review, I was not entirely sure that I would enjoy this film as the subject of  the Iranian Hostage Crisis in 1979  failed to fill be with much enthusiasm. Thankfully however, I was so very wrong! I loved it.

The film, based on a declassified true story, follows Tony Mendez (Affleck), an exfiltration expert working for the CIA, as he garners a plan to rescue six Americans who manage to escape from the US Embassy in Tehran after Iranian militants storm the building and take everyone hostage.  They take shelter with the Canadian Ambasssador who keeps them hidden.  They know that it is just a matter of time before the militants realise they are missing, track them down and kill them.

Mendez comes up with an incredible plan to rescue the six.  He teams up with a Hollywood make-up artist (played by the brilliant John Goodman) and a Hollywood film producer (equally brilliantly played by Alan Arkin) to create a fake film company.  They get a script, Hollywood real estate and put in motion the production of a Sci-Fi blockbuster called Argo. Posing as a Canadian film crew on a location scouting mission, Mendez plans to rescue the six Americans and fly them out of Tehran right under the noses of the Iranians.  It is a spectacular plan that would seem unbelievable, had it not really happened!

The film includes lots of  footage of  the actual hostage crisis, giving a real feeling of the era and the enormity of the situation.  There is a great deal of dry humour interjected into the film delivered mainly by Goodman and Arkin, but it does not distract from the seriousness of the plot at all.  In fact it adds another dimension which I think transcends this movie into something far beyond just another political thriller.  It is suspenseful and had me on the edge of my seat as the plan encounters problem after problem.  The sense of realism and urgency is palpable.  It is such a compelling story, and knowing that it is based on a real rescue mission makes it all the more exciting.

The credits of the film give the viewer an insight into the reality of the crisis, as we are shown real photos of the people involved and actual images of key moments.  Affleck certainly delivered a film that was true to the  spirit of the original story both visually and in the storytelling itself.  Tony Mendez is portrayed as the unassuming hero, a guy simply doing his job, who put his life on the line to save six lives against all the odds. Inspirational stuff.

Argo is available to buy now at all good retailers on DVD and Blu-Ray.