By the time you read this, I will definitely have watched Deadpool, and promise a verdict next week. Sorry! In the meantime, I have two thoroughly enjoyable movies to bring to you this week.
Babes is full of bawdy humour, and is a love letter to female friendship. Two strong characters Eden and Dawn (played by Ilana Glazer and Michelle Buteau) are trying to keep the flame of their friendship flickering, even though it now involves catching four trains to meet for their annual Thanksgiving cinema trip.
Things quickly become chaotic when Dawn goes into labour before the trailers even start, and the film takes us through the twists and turns of their friendship. Long story short, Eden also becomes pregnant after a one night encounter, and as the two friends drift in and out of each others' lives, we're left rooting for their bond to survive. The men are mere window dressing, and it was nice to see strong female characters portrayed in a non-patronising way.
There are some genuinely funny lines in the script, and as long as you don't mind a high amount of crude barbs served up with your comedy cocktail, this is definitely one to catch. As our lives change, we've all had friends drift in and out of our lives, and Babes successfully captures this in its story. I won't tell you if it all works out for our central two characters, but you'll certainly be rooting for them both. If you liked Bridesmaids, especially the scene in the wedding dress shop, this is one for you.
Harold and the Purple Crayon has had a mauling from proper film critics, but currently has a 92% audience approval score on Rotten Tomatoes at the time of writing. My nephew gave it a solid 9.7 out of 10.
I don't really understand the bad reviews, to be honest. Zachary Levi has the same child-like wonder at the real world as Buddy the Elf did, and coincidentally this film also counts Zooey DeSchanel amongst its cast, along with a moose and a porcupine. All will become clear in the first few pencil-drawn minutes.
Essentially, Harold can draw anything he likes, and decides to leave the confines of his world and head to the 'real world' (Barbie parallels can't be entirely avoided here). From a car tyre to a plane, the power of imagination is all he needs to make stuff happen. But can he find his 'old man' creator?
Adapted from a classic Crockett Johnson picture book, which DeSchanel says she has regularly read to her kids over the years, this is a film with a good, positive message.
If you had a purple crayon for the day, what would you draw? I'm thinking a massive trapdoor for those smashing up our high streets. Or maybe an absolutely massive bath, complete with bath ducks.
Harold and his friends put a smile on my face, my nephew loved it, and it didn't outstay its welcome at around 90 minutes. Give it a whirl!
Alex B Cann weekly film column
