The Sofa and Popcorn Degree

SNATCHED starring Amy Schumer and Goldie Hawn directed by Jonathan Levine A review by Helen J. Reynolds A movie about the perils of travelling abroad; Emily (Amy Schumer) has just been dumped and left with non-refundable tickets to Ecuador. With no gal pals to help her through this crisis, Emily turns instead - as we all do - to mother knows best, here played by Goldie Hawn.  The trailer sells it as a hilarious ride - imagine being on vay-k getting beach drunk and trying to hook up with guys but with your over-protective mum standing with the sunscreen behind you? Oh, and they get kidnapped too. Funny, no? Well, no is about right. The jokes are predictable and the pace is whacked so that even if a line is funny, it's got no time to land. Ironically, there's even a 'falling-to-his-death' cliff scene that's over before the guy hits the floor. In another example, characters rush out the door after a 'blink-and-you-miss-it' interrogation, al...

ALIEN COVENANT starring Michael Fassbender and Katherine Waterston directed by Ridley Scott A review by Helen J. Reynolds The Alien series returns with a sequel to its less successful prequel, Prometheus . This time we start with a new crew, travelling the stars on a colonising mission.   The opening is Blade Runner -esque with a shot of a clear, unblinking eye. It's then revealed to be David (Michael Fassbender 8.0) who is, as his maker explains, an updated, more perfect version. I can't argue there.  The movie is engaging only in Fassbender's dual role. The David from Prometheus and this film's Walter (a mega-upgraded Fassbender) are very different characters that have an interesting brotherhood. One of them even recalls Roy Batty (Rutger Hauer, Blade Runner ), daring to pursue more than his creator intended and delivering it with appropriate insanity. Space also plays its part in adding to the catastrophes, bringing action early on as we lose the...

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 starring Chris Pratt and Zoe Saldana directed by James Gunn A review by Helen J. Reynolds I am groot, I am groot, I am groot - or, to put it another way, the Guardians of the Galaxy returns in a sequel that stays true to its reckless fun humour with some new characters, new planets and, of course, crazy shenanigans.  This time around the gang are lauded heroes, hired to protect the galaxy from weird many-tentacled beasts (with varying levels of success). Enemies come thick and fast and in all colours. Giving blue a bad name, Michael Rooker returns as the deadly whistler Yondu, only some in-fighting see him turn rogue. Karen Gillan also paints up again as Nebula - the blue bald assassin with some serious daddy/sister issues. Nor are they the only ones hunting the guardians... Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) has never quite known what's the deal with his parentage, even being as confused to think David Hasselhoff could be his father back wh...

PATERSON  starring Adam Driver and Golshifteh Farahani directed by Jim Jarmusch A review by Helen J. Reynolds Paterson follows a full week in the life of the suitably named protagonist, Paterson (Adam Driver), a bus driver/poet in a relationship with crafty and artsy home-maker, Laura (Goldshifteh Farahani). Since his foray in the Star Wars franchise, Adam Driver has become a popular man in Hollywood but here he's back in his element. This role is a far better fit that suits his quirky, quiet style. Those that enjoy the microscopic dry wit of poet William Carlos Williams, will appreciate this homage as Paterson's life is narrated as though straight from the famous poet's pages. Observations of love, nature and - of all things - matchboxes, have the hallmarks of WCW's oddball humour as well as his deep imaginings of beauty in the dullest, most ordinary of things.  More than just the literal poems that are written and narrated across the screen (...