The Inbetweeners Movie

Lads On Tour

During their time in Sixth Form College, four teenagers, Will, Simon, Jay and Neil aren't the cool kids. Not by a long shot. But they aren't the nerds either. They're The Inbetweeners, wannabe-popular kids always trying to find that one aspect that will label them as 'cool' and set them for life. Much like the four semi-adults, The Inbetweeners Movie isn't really a movie. Not by a long shot. But it makes bigger steps than its television origins. So has it joined the ranks of successful adaptations such as Serenity or South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut? Or is it simply a uninteresting 90 minute-long episode like The Simpsons/Family Guy movies?

The Inbetweeners Movie starts with the foursome finishing school and deciding to travel to Malia, Crete for a 'lad's holiday' and so Simon can get over his break-up with love-of-his-life Carli. Whilst there, they meet and try their luck with a quartet of girls, have to deal with narcissistic and obnoxious club reps as well as struggles within their own tight-knit group.

Firstly I must apologise if there are any American readers of this blog, although I kind of doubt it. The Inbetweeners Movie was released in the UK on 17 August, and will not be released in the USA until 25 November, so this won't really be appropriate to read until you're getting your starting to reach for the scarf rather than your sandals. Therefore we got to see the attractive, sunny beaches of Malia during our almost-Summertime, but for the Americans, they will see four young English lads enjoy radiant Crete whilst they shiver in their mittens. I predict that the film may not do so well over the pond, with America not really understanding the type of humour (e.g. 'briefcase wanker') but it could be the new Shaun of the Dead, a film that the Yanks inexplicably lean towards and embrace. Meanwhile, here in the UK, The Inbetweeners Movie became the most successful British comedy of all time in merely its first week's release, and I can't say it's a shock.

I believe that I laughed at The Inbetweeners Movie more frequently than I did at Horrible Bosses, Bridesmaids, The Hangover Part 2 and any other comedy released this Summer. The writers have managed to capture the debauchery, lost innocence, and wild-eyed enthusiasm that these characters would have on a lad's holiday. The characters transfer to the film smoothly, with their adventures gladly fitting the television series' style.

However, since the film's tag-line is "This Summer, Four Boys Become Men", you'd expect some growth in the characters, and only two of the characters really change for the better, the other two just stay the same as they are. Potential personality improvements or maturity are teased briefly but quickly sidelined by more jokes about sex and certain character's mothers. Personally I would have preferred to see each of the four main characters have their own journey to experience, but they have slightly left the Inbetweeners story open for further instalments so there may be more to come. If the film is the end of The Inbetweeners, then I feel it is a rather fitting way for them to go. A few open plot-lines here and there allow the audience to make up their own story-lines and due to intelligent writing, the characters manage to charm you through their vulgarity and camaraderie.

This film has been compared to the letdown that was Kevin and Perry Go Large or called the "British Pie" of comedy, whereas I believe that it stands as both a fantastic instalment into the Inbetweeners story, as well as a fun, enjoyable, laugh-out-loud comedy about adolescent boys finding their feet in foreign land. It's much better than anything else that's being offered at the moment, that's for sure.

Rating - 8/10

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

The Apes Are Revolting

A solitary and angry ape, escaped from his confinement, revenge on his mind, runs down the middle of a deserted street at night. He enters his old Master's house and silently watches him sleep.

This is why I now fear apes.

Before tonight, they were harmless, playful animals that you see on National Geographic or piano delivery men in Tetley Tea Bag commercials. They weren't threatening to bite my finger off due to the unsanitary living conditions in zoos, or planning on overthrowing society because Draco Malfoy sprayed them with water. Now I'm going to be looking over my shoulder, worried that some pissed-off simian is going to be plotting my downfall. Anyway, enough about my new found agrizoophobia (that's right), let's talk prequel!

Rise of the Planet of the Apes is a reboot of the apes-as-overlord franchise, as well as the longest film name since The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.  Set in the present day, ROTPOTA has loose ties to the Charlton Heston-original Planet of the Apes but isn't wholly a prequel to it. Thankfully it has nothing to do with the débâcle that was the Tim Burton remake either.

Perpetual-stoner James Franco plays Will Rodman, a scientist trying to find the cure to Alzheimer's by testing drugs on lab monkeys. One ape reacts well to a particular sample, largely increasing her intelligence. However due to a bout of monkey-rage and a security guard's gun, the Momma Monkey dies and Will ends up raising her baby, Caesar. Caesar shows advanced intelligence, learns sign language and eventually becomes a proper member of Will's family. But when fully-grown Caesar defends himself and attacks a neighbour, he is taken to an ape shelter and mistreated, leading to him encouraging his fellow apes to rise against us oppressive humans.

Andy Serkis, famous for portraying Gollum in the Lord of the Rings trilogy and King Kong in.... well.... King Kong, again dons the Motion-Capture suit to provide the movements and facial features of Caesar, and the effects are astounding. They may appear slightly off-putting at first, but as you grow to know Caesar, the uncanny valley smooths out and by the end, you start cheering this fictional ape as he does his destructive best to overthrow our society. The other apes looks so damned lifelike, I honestly thought the film-makers had taught an orangutan to sign to Andy Serkis. The special effects are definitely what makes this film stand out. It couldn't have been made without them, as we empathise with Caesar from the start, and full credit to Andy Serkis, whose fantastic acting quality is again shown through a digital character.

The other actors in the film, especially the main stars James Franco and Freida (Slumdog Millionaire) Pinto aren't really used to the best of their abilities, and are merely sideline characters to Caesar and his storyline of imprisonment and escape, which is a shame. Franco never really grows as a character, and he isn't really shown fighting for Caesar's freedom that much and Freida Pinto might as well not have starred, as she brings nothing to the storyline. The only other actor worthy of mention is John Lithgow, perfectly portraying Will's father as he slowly slips into dementia and the wracks of Alzheimer's. His face just oozes innocence and blank wonder as his world steadily drifts away from him.

Despite that most of the audience know the outcome of the film, the writers have made sure that the origin of ape and man's role reversal is one wrought with emotion, as you end up wishing the apes to be free from their oppressors and come out on top. And when a film has the power to make you want to see humanity overthrown, you know that it's made you care for these digital creations.

Now bow to your Ape Overlords! You have only James Franco to blame.

Rating – 8.5/10

Two For Tuesday: Kung Fu Panda 2 / Pirates of the Caribbean - On Stranger Tides

Nowadays, Hollywood films tend to fit into one of three categories: an original story, an adaptation of a popular TV show/video game/already released film, or a sequel/threequel/fourquel. The latter usually carries a heavy burden of continuing the storyline and characters that the audience have become associated with, whilst making the situation feel fresh and original. Recently, the two newest instalments of popular franchises were released to the cinema-going public. One has recently broken the $1 billion worldwide box-office mark, whereas the other has received near-worldwide critical praise.

I found the first Kung Fu Panda to be an absolute delight, and believe that it is the best animated film that Dreamworks have done, closely followed by How To Train Your Dragon. The comedy was sharp, the animation was crisp and the voice acting was performed brilliantly, especially Dustin Hoffman's Master Shifu. Thankfully the sequel more than matches its predecessor.

The disgraced and tyrannical peacock Lord Shen (brilliantly voiced by Gary Oldman) has created the world's first cannon and threatens to take over China by defeating any Kung Fu Master that stands in his way and make Kung Fu obsolete. Po travels with the Furious Five to defeat Shen, whilst attempting to learn about his origin and attain inner peace.

The first Kung Fu Panda earned my respect for making a children's film that the whole family could enjoy; Po might have been a tubby lovable oaf for kids to laugh at and there were bright shiny colours to amaze them, but there were often instances of mature friendship between the Master Shifu and his apprentice Po, quite deep conversation on the nature of the Universe and the occasional sarcastic side glances given by someone unimpressed by the chubby panda. It was able to mix both adult and child-orientated humour perfectly, which is something that steadily drifted away within the Shrek franchise. Kung Fu Panda 2, on the other hand, not only manages to maintain that balance, but also feature genuine heart-tugging moments when delving into Po's back story and contain much more mature content; I can't really see Shrek 5 dealing with the genocide of ogres, nor Cars 3 showing the terrible tragedy of a Mother Jeep sacrificing her life for her only baby.

As well as handling the subject matter delicately and professionally, the creators of Kung Fu Panda also treated the setting with respect as well, not succumbing to making the film into a stereotype. Instead, the whole Kung Fu philosophy and Chinese ancestry is taken seriously and honoured in significant ways. Whilst Panda started the film with a dream sequence shown in an Anime-style, Panda 2 starts with shadow puppets telling the story of Lord Shen's dark origin.

Away from the sometimes-serious storyline and authentic setting, the film is still incredibly enjoyable and fun. Jack Black continues playing a panda version of Jack Black, although the side characters receive a bit more fleshing out, especially Angelina Jolie's Master Tigress. The animation is as crisp as ever, and the 3D technology finally does make a difference, with quite a few instances being improved with high-flying acrobatics and weapons being chucked in the direction of the audience.

Despite its cutesy appearance, Kung Fu Panda 2 sits very highly in my personal opinion and I think that when 2012 comes around, this will be known as the Animated Comedy Of 2011. Dreamworks can gladly quote me on their DVD box-art.

Now on to Disney's latest and unnecessary venture into the already stagnant waters of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.

Like many others, I was a huge fan of the first Pirates of the Caribbean film, The Curse of the Black Pearl; despite being based on a theme park ride, it was something fresh and an exhilarating return to the swashbuckling films of the past, infused with an overall dry humour and topped off with an eccentric Johnny Depp performance, combining to create an overall entertaining thrill ride. However, the sequels managed to screw something that wasn't broken by introducing confusing two-dimensional side-characters (is she a bayoux-dwelling voodoo witch or the Spirit of the Sea?), elevating boring main characters to positions they would never inherit (Pirate Lord Swann?!) and having an unimpressive and non-threatening main villain behind it all. (Can you remember his name?...... Not Barbossa or Davey Jones. The other one. The small English tit with the wig. No? My point.)

But here was a chance to make things right. A new start. A way to apologise to fans of Pearl for the second and third films. The proposed beginning of a whole new trilogy. No Kia-ora. No Or-Blando. Rush and Depp were staying. Everything seemed so hopeful.

The result? Let's just say when you're halfway through a film and you reckon that what you're watching could use either of Or-Blando or Kia-ora to spice it up, it's not doing it for you.

The newest instalment of Pirates takes place immediately At World's End finished, with both Captains, Jack and Barbossa, starting to look for the long-lost Fountain of Youth. On their way, they must face adversaries such as the legendary Captain Blackbeard (Ian McShane), a Spanish fleet intent on destroying the Fountain and mythical creatures such as mermaids and voodoo-style zombies, etc etc. Anyway, on with the autopsy!

The great aspect of the original trilogy, especially the first instalment, was that Bloom and Knightly's duo were relatively new to the Pirate World. It was scary, unknown and required a guide to help them. Enter Captain Jack Sparrow. Jack knew the ins and outs of the lingo, mannerisms and code of pirates and helped the innocent couple find their way. He was the Gandalf to Frodo, Dumbledore to Harry, or Yoda to Luke. Just one that was often drunk and duplicitous. Now that the Swann/Turner collaboration have decided to hang up their corset and sword, Jack steps into the protagonist role and the film follows how he manages to wiggle out of numerous sticky situations. Hardly enthralling watching, especially when Depp's 'Pepe Le Richards' act is getting tired now. There's nothing new for Jack to learn as he easily handles himself in tough predicament after tough predicament.

The other reason I returned to the franchise was to see Geoffrey Rush continue chew more scenery as the delightfully double-crossing Captain Barbossa. He was the personal highlight of Pearl and World's End, and his inclusion into the four-quel made me excited for the potential in his new role. However, as always the case, his acting talent is squandered, being reduced to a role where he isn't really allowed free reign to evil-do like his previous performances. Instead, more screen-time is dedicated to new characters such as Penelope Cruz's bland and blatant romantic interest, and the uninteresting storyline between an abused priest and an appropriately fish-faced mermaid.

Overall, I gladly recommend the nuanced and fun animation over the pirate-filled nonsense. I see a bright future for the Kung Fu Panda franchise whereas the 'new' Pirates trilogy need vast improvement to bring it any closer to the original three.

Kung Fu Panda 2 - 9/10

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides - 3/10