6:00 PM, 26th March, 2011
No Guests
This is an adaptation of the Jonathan Swift classic - and I've got to say that Swift would probably be turning in his grave if he paid for a ticket to see this on the big screen. That said, the film has some fun highlights, a bunch of pop culture references, and if you are a fan of Jack Black then you'll find more of the usual Jack Black humour so you're sure to enjoy this adventure.
So, what's it all about? Newspaper mailroom guy slash wannabe travel writer Gulliver (Black) attempts a trip to Bermuda to impress travel editor Darcy Silverman (Peet). Unfortunately instead of Bermuda he ends up in Lilliput, where he finds himself at the mercy of Lilliput's tiny citizens, including the somewhat underused Billy Connolly as their King.
Emily Blunt is Lilliput's princess, and she is the unexpected star of the show, while Jason Segel makes a surprisingly good English-accented suitor. Gulliver's Travels is one of those movies that falls between complete disaster and loads of fun - so basically a good movie to see at Film Group! It's a fun, family-friendly fantasy adventure spiced by some nifty visual effects - and it definitely benefits from watching on the big screen because those tiny people would be crazily small on your home telly!
Tamara Lee
8:00 PM, 26th March, 2011
No Guests
Okay. I'm just going to put it out there up front. There's a fair amount of nakedness and sex in this movie. But that's okay - it's not gratuitous and is central to the story. Also, it's good looking sex between Jamie Randall (Gyllenhaal) and Maggie Murdock (Hathaway), so there's something for everybody. There.
So what's the deal? Love and Other Drugs is the story of Jamie - his charm, his drive and his desires. It is a window into the 1990s, where drug companies ruled and branding mattered. As a sales rep for the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, the antidepressent Prozac is Jamie's enemy and getting doctors to prescribe Zoloft in its place becomes his main goal. That is, until he meets the fiercely independent artist, Maggie, as a result of his not always entirely ethical pursuit of this goal.
It is through Maggie, who is familiar with the pharmaceutical world for completely different reasons to Jamie, that Jamie first learns of the little blue wonder drug Viagra. It is a lesson that culminates in a practical experience of its less than desirable possible side effects. But what lesson is greater and more powerful than Viagra? I'll give you a hint - it's in the title.
The lead performances in this tale about love and other drugs earned both leads 2011 Golden Globe nominations, and they are wonderfully supported by a stellar cast that includes Hank Azaria, Oliver Platt and Judy Greer. It's definitely worth a viewing, and if chick-flicks aren't your thing - go for the nudie bits!
Linda Chen