Review: Eddie the Eagle (2016)

I am unashamedly obsessed with Taron Egerton, he has not made enough films to keep my obsession at bay and I've watched all the interviews I could on YouTube so Eddie the Eagle came out just in time!

Eddie the Eagle is based on the true story of Eddie Edwards (Taron Egerton), the British downhill skier who became the much loved underdog in the 1988 Winter Olympics. Accompanied by his trainer Bronson Peary (Hugh Jackman), Eddie fights to compete as the first ever British ski jumper at the Olympics.

I can safely say I have never smiled so much watching a movie, my face was aching from grinning.  It is the ultimate feel good movie, if you ever need a pick me up, this is the way to go.  I went in fully expecting the laughs to be at Eddie's expense, but brilliantly they showcase him as a hero that you desperately want to succeed because of his determination to achieve his childhood dreams.  Comedic relief is provided through his relationship with Bronson, training montages and his supportive Mom (Jo Hartley) and not so supportive Dad (Keith Allen).

Egerton was absolutely brilliant as determined Eddie, he just makes him so lovable and even though you know he's not going to get he gold you are willing him to succeed.  I was jumping up and down in my seat, I gripped the seat for dear life whenever he did a jump and more than once I very nearly jumped up and fist pumped.  Jackman, although fictional, is great as the near opposite of Eddie, having his pessimistic nature slowly chipped away by kind hearted and ever-optimist Edwards.

Love, love, love this movie, I cannot wait until its out on DVD so I can watch it again and again.

Review: Me before you (2016)

Anyone who knows me knows that I have been waiting for this movie to come out for months, no years.  I waiting too long to read the book after it being recommended to me and after finishing it i desperately wanted to forget it so I could read it again with fresh eyes.  As that wasn't possible I have been waiting impatiently for someone to make the movie....

Louisa Clark (Emilia Clarke) gets a job as a care-give for quadriplegic Will Traynor (Sam Claflin) only find he is a miserable recluse who only wishes for his old life back.  Louisa spends her days trying to inject some laughter and substance back into his world with the help of his medical carer, Nathan (Stephen Peacock).

I obviously read the book before I saw this and I think because the book is more in depth you feel like you know the characters a bit more than someone who hasn't.  My buddy-o-pal Lou hadn't read the book.  Therefore, I cried like someone had just ordered the last Big Mac while she barely sniffed the whole way through (this is where I might add that she is pregnant and therefore somewhat hormonal) and yet I came out a puffy mess and she was her usual radiant self (bitch!).  I can only put it down to me remembering more from the book, I am waiting for her to now read the book to give me her opinion.

I did prefer the book with the extra little details and knowing more about Lou's feelings but they really did cast the lead characters perfectly, particularly Emilia Clarke - she has without a doubt the most expressive eyebrows in all of Hollywood.  She was everything I imagined Lou to be and then some.   Also, being a die hard Home and Away fan, it was great to see Stephen Peacock in his first big role in Hollywood!

I did feel like the key elements of the film (them falling in love and his follow up decisions) were really rushed, I think that is because it wasn't rushed at all in the books.  Other than that, I really loved it.  I think reading the book first was a bonus because you had all the extra depth that's missing.

Mini Reviews: High-Rise (2016), Triple 9 (2016) & Dirty Grandpa (2016)

As we approach the middle of the year, all the movies that I missed in January and February are slowly released on DVD and VOD, meaning I can finally catch up and rack up a few more 2016 releases on my 'watched' list. That means, for the first time in forever, one of my Mini Reviews posts has a theme. These three movies were all released in the UK at the start of 2016, and I've caught up!

OH MY GOD WHAT WAS EVEN GOING ON HERE. Seriously. I was so excited for High-Rise (2016) when I first saw the trailers. A suited and booted Tom Hiddleston? I’m in. A weird and quirky plot? Excuse me, I already told you I’m in but now I’m excited. I was gutted I missed this in the cinemas, but now? I’m relieved. This movie was so weird. It was like Snowpiercer but in a high-rise building. Snowpiercer also had a plot! This had so many suit-clad characters I forgot who was who. What made it worse was that the movie starts with the ending, so it’s not like I felt the need to stick with it to find out what even happens. Argh!

I had no intention of seeing Triple 9 (2016) in the cinemas, truth be told, it’s not my kind of movie, but I saw it get a lot of decent reviews, so I made sure I gave it a try once I could. It’s your typical action-heist movie, filled with dirty cops and criminals, and takes a few turns that the veteran action fans probably smelt a mile away, but I really enjoyed it! My fiance (probably husband by the time you read this!) plays a game called Rainbow Six Seige, and I got that vibe from this, so he was kind of bummed that I watched it without him. Still, he gives me this proud kind of look when I start spewing lines about breaching the door and stuff…

I don’t know what made me give Dirty Grandpa (2016) a watch, but sometimes you just need to watch some mindless comedy, you know?! These things are so hit and miss and even though general consensus seems to be that this is one a stinker, it just hit my funny bone in a way that a comedy hasn’t for a long time. Maybe it’s my growing appreciation for Zac Efron, or the shock of such foul words coming from Robert De Niro, but this worked for me. Sure, the plot is tired and has been used time and time again, and yep, 99% of the comedy relies on rude jokes, but what more did you expect? I’m still laughing at the ‘Jenny from the c*ck block’ line, and it’s been weeks.

Review: Hello, My Name Is Doris (2016)

Sometimes you come across a film that stays with you for all the right reasons.  Hello, My Name Is Doris is that film.  I was so tired when I decided to watch it that I never thought I would finish it but it sucked me in and I couldn't turn it off.

Doris (Sally Field), is a sixty-something woman who has spent her life looking after her ailing Mother.  After attending a self help seminar she decides to pursue her romantic interest, John (Max Greenfield) who just happens to be half her age.

I spent most of this film with my hand over my face because I kept assuming that Doris was going to make a complete fool out of herself but everytime she just owned her decisions. I loved the positive message that it gives out that it doesn't matter what people think of you, it's what you think of you.  It really tugged at my heartstrings because I was judging her, I saw her wear an outfit and I assumed she was going to be laughed at but she wore it with such confidence that everyone loved it, and why the hell not.  I think more people in the world need to be like Doris. Last week I was ranting about how every office needs a dog (it does - but perhaps not your office Jenna!) but this week's rant is that every office needs a Doris! 

This movie was so cool! I was expecting a bit of a silly, slapstick kind of comedy (I didn't see the trailer) but this was something better than that. It was funny in all the right places, and it had a truly original storyline. Original to me at least, I've never seen anything like it. I lost interest in some of the slower parts of the movie, but it was definitely refreshing to see something so unique.

It's always good to see Max Greenfield (even if he's not playing Schmidt!) but Sally Field absolutely steals the show in this dramedy, playing the confident Doris who is just a little bit broken on the inside from the loss of her Mother and the insensitivity of her Brother.  I've decided this whole movie takes place in the New Girl universe, and the company they work in is in fact the marketing firm Schmidt works for...!

I still don't know how I feel about the ending! If you've seen it you'll know what I mean...it sort of has two endings. At first my reaction was 'NOOOOOO you ruined it', then I laughed till it hurt, and then my face kind of did this scrunchy thing when I realised it may have ended that way. I don't know, man...I don't know.

Looking Forward to Seeing in the Cinema: June 2016

Ok - before we get into this whole looking forward malarkey,  I have a confession to make! Prior to last months post, Allie text me to ask me if X-Men was going to be my looking forward film, obviously I said yes so she kindly went with Warcraft!!  However, it turns out I have the memory of a sieve, because when it came to writing my post, I did a whole blurb on Captain America!! Even when I looked up the release date and found it was April not May, I still didn't realise what I had done.  It took the post going up for Allie to read it and text me saying, why the heck did you write about Captain America instead of X-Men!!!  Because i'm a numpty, that's why!  So in short, we both potentially wanted to pick X-Men and yet we didn't actually write about it! Can I use it for this one?!

Also, I have to note that we wrote this post well before it was published, so when you guys finally read this Miss Hawkins will be Mrs Adkins - all kinds of happy for my bestest and her beau.  Love you lots <3

Hello, summer! Is it just me or does it feel like it should be blockbuster season already? This year they seem to have been spread out throughout the year...which I'm fine with, because I normally only catch about 50% of the big releases in summer anyway! This month is a tricky one to pick, but I think I've made up my mind.

I saw the trailer for The Nice Guys right before seeing Spotlight in early January, and it completely took me by surprise. It looks hilarious! From what I can tell, it's set in the 1970's and follows Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe investigating the death of a porn star.

Ryan Gosling has been away from the big screen far too long for my liking, but his chemistry with Russell Crowe on Oscars night has really got me excited for The Nice Guys! I think it's a case of it either being a huge hit or a real disaster, with the only funny moments being shown in the trailer, but that's always the risk with comedy. I've got my fingers crossed! There was a gun through a window in the trailer which made me laugh hysterically! (it doesn't take much!).  Has anyone else seen the trailer for this which is Ryan and Russell in therapy in real life before the film's release, that really made me laugh.

The Nice Guys will be released in UK cinemas on 3rd June, 2016.

Oh my god, how long have I been waiting for this film, ever since I read the book way back when and then I reignited my love for JoJo Moyes this Spring reading the the sequel.  Now it's finally here.....

Based on the book by JoJo Moyes, Me before you is about Louisa Clark (Emilia Clarke) who takes a job looking after quadriplegic, William Traynor who having lead an adventurous lifestyle before his accident s struggling to come to terms with his new life.

I love Emillia Clarke and I love Sam Claflin so what is not to love....

Me before you will be released in UK cinemas on 3rd June, 2016.