Movie Scene:Whats love got to do with it

WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT?

Credit: StudioCanal

Jemima Khan spent many a year living in Pakistan whilst married to Cricket legend Imran Khan, and she draws from that experience to pen this by-the-numbers romantic comedy, directed by Shekhar Kapur.

Lily James plays Zoe, a documentary filmmaker who decides to film her friend’s upcoming arranged marriage. Hoping that she can hear him is none other than ‘Clem Fandango’ himself, Shazad Latif. The Toast of London and Star Trek: Discovery star is perfectly cast alongside Lily James as Kazim, her next-door-neighbour and childhood friend. Reluctant at first, he and his family agree to the film, as Zoe documents the whole process of a South Asian ‘assisted’ marriage. It will surprise you to learn that things don’t go to plan. How will the ridiculously attractive Zoe and the dashingly handsome Zakim possibly handle such a scenario? With a decent ensemble including a scene-

Movie Scene:Puss in boots

 

PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH

Credit: Universal

Screen icon Antonio Banderas returns to one of his best roles ever – as the voice of the enigmatic Puss in Boots. This movie finds our hero forced to take stock of his life – his adventurous escapades have meant that he has burnt through eight of his nine lives. 

So he begins a quest for The Last Wish – something that could replenish his nine lives. Along for the ride is Kitty Softpaws (the delectable Salma Hayek). Bringing together an accomplished vocal ensemble including Florence Pugh, Olivia Colman, Ray Winstone, Harvey Guillén and Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish shows that great animation is truly back with a bang in cinemas. It all looks incredible onscreen too.

Movie Scene:Plane

PLANE

Credit: Lionsgate

When the start of the year blues hit, there’s something that always helps ease the pain – a brand new action-blockbuster. Imaginatively titled Plane, this story follows a plane ride from hell. When he’s forced to take on-board a prisoner onto his commercial flight, pilot Gerard Butler’s day is about to get a whole lot worse. 

Not only that, but when the flight goes through a tropical storm, it has to make an emergency landing in a war-zone. Can he keep his passengers alive and escape? And can his new convict passenger (Luke Cage star Mike Colter) actually help him out? Plane is brash, bold and a whole lot of fun. It’s a big action film that is exactly what we need to start the year off on the front-foot. Full of gunfights, explosions and plenty of carnage, this is one Plane that has arrived on-time to banish our January-blues for good.

Movie Scene:M3gan

M3GAN

Credit: Universal

We’ve seen a lot of psycho toys run rampage across the big screen in the past, so M3GAN doesn’t break new ground in that respect, but what it does do is deliver a compelling and very entertaining horror that will get the crowd going. 

After taking-in her recently orphaned niece, Gemma (Allison Williams) struggles to help Cady (Violet McGraw) deal with her inner trauma. Fortuitously, she just happens to be building a brand new, high-tech children’s toy called M3GAN (Model 3 Generative ANdroid) – an AI doll that learns from whomever its synced-up with. Soon Cady becomes emotionally dependent on M3GAN, as the doll grows ever more protective of her pal. So protective in-fact, that when challenges present themselves, M3GAN has no qualms about taking deadly action to protect that bond. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but this is an enjoyable ride all the same with plenty of horror-sequel potential too.

Movie Scene:Cocaine bear

COCAINE BEAR

Credit: Universal

The start of every year tends to bring with it a movie destined for cult-status. Cocaine Bear is that film – a frankly bizarre true story about a 500-pound black bear who eats some cocaine and goes on a killing rampage. 

There’s more to it than that of course, but you get the general idea. Set in a Georgia forest, the bear attracts the attention of not only the rangers tasked with capturing it, but some helpless tourists and local teenagers, not to mention the group of criminals searching for their missing stash of coke. Elizabeth Banks directs this comedy-thriller that features some amazing acting talent, including Keri Russell, Margo Martindale, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Matthew Rhys, Isiah Whitlock Jr. and – in his last onscreen role – the late, great Ray Liotta.