Maloo's Movie Reviews

Adapted from Danny Wallace's best selling book, Yes Man's premise is a simple yet brilliant one - take one anti-social down and out (Carl Allen, played by Jim Carrey) and make him say Yes to everything. The film opens well, watching Carl discover the power and joy of just saying Yes is thoroughly enjoyable and quite original. Zooey Deschanel truly finds her feet (after the shocking The Happening) in the quirky love interest, Allison.

However, Hollywood's ultimate sin inevitably kicks in during the third act, and the all-too-familiar Carrey running about trying to right his wrongs and win back the girl takes hold. But the sticky ending is still well worth putting up with, as Yes Man has charms-a-plenty - particularly Rhys Darby's take on Carl's boss Norman, who is scene-stealingly adorable (I want to go to his Harry Potter party!)

7/10

With the brilliance of 2005's Sin City still fresh in my mind, I entered The Spirit full of hope for a new Miller franchise... Unfortunately, The Spirit did not deliver.

Flitting between serious and slapstick, it fails to pick a line and stick to it. A never ending line up of pouting starlets in skimpy outfits fill most of the cast list, yet fail to offer any real story, empathy or emotion. The ridiculous army of clones bred by the city's resident bad boy is frankly laughable, and if you are going to hire an actor to mirror in a scene hundreds of times over, you might want to check he can act first.

The only up side to The Spirit has to be Samuel L Jackson's turn as the deluded, self loving Octopus. The Nazi scene is pure comedy, although I'm not convinced it is intentional...

In short, this latest self indulgent Miller instalment will leave one overwhelming question - what exactly is the point??

4/10

While Madagascar's second installment will still manage to entertain fans of the first as well as the younger viewers, it fails to deliver with the true stand-out gusto of the original, relying on recycled ideas rather than fresh ones. Baron-Cohen pleases again as King Maurice, although it is with a more forced feel. The focus on the "Bad Kitty" old lady soon becomes dull and irritating, and the human side story is essentially pointless, feeling more like an after-thought than a plot line. If you are looking for a giggle without having to engage your brain Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa will entertain.

5.5/10

Left alone on Earth with nothing but hundreds if years worth of litter for company, Wall-E leads a lonely life, until the arrival of robot EVE arrives to shake up his world. Leaving Earth does mean the addition of some less desirable future-human characters you may find it hard to empathise with, but untimately Wall-E's originality, charm and utter adorability shines through - Wall-E is yet another triumph in the long line of Disney-Pixar hits and I defy anyone not to fall in love with him!

8/10

This movie lives up to its hype - Its very dark times for Gotham as the whole city suffers at the hands of evil mastermind the Joker, but is the scrutinized 'vigilante' Batman up to the job of hero? Finding out is well woth the 2.5 hour running time. The script is well written, keeping a constant tension that rarely lets you get far from the edge of your seat. The film's trump card is without a doubt Ledger's turn as the demented Joker, who is never anything short of fantastic. Oscar talk is completely justified, and has nothing to do with pity over his untimely death- such a shame to lose him when he was clearly in his acting prime.

9.5/10