The Tameside Radio presenter and avid film fan gives his take on Good Luck To You, Leo Grande which he went to see at Cineworld in Ashton this week...

I've not made it yet to see the latest Minions movie, and am hoping to squeeze in 90 minutes with the yellow rogues this weekend, so I should have a verdict for next week. However, I suspect if you've got little ones, they will love the silliness, based on the clip I've seen. Us grown-ups attempting to make serious points about animated films is a bit daft really. The real litmus test is whether the young viewers are kept enthralled and giggling. Some might find the gibberish yellow things irksome, but I've always really liked them, so I'm looking forward to checking it out. Perhaps they have now milked this franchise dry though.

I've also not seen Lightyear yet. In fact, part of this is down to a worry that going to see an animated movie on my own looks slightly strange as a 44 year old man. I also question the need for this film to exist, given how epic all four of the original Toy Story movies are. It's hard to believe the first one arrived almost 30 years ago now, when I was at University in 1995. Where do the years go? Anyway, I should have a review next week. The ones I've read so far have been rather lukewarm.

This week, I did manage to catch Good Luck To You, Leo Grande (this column would be a bit difficult to write if I hadn't watched anything, after all). Emma Thompson plays a retired RE teacher whose ex-husband didn't exactly bring her much pleasure in the boudoir. In a bid to discover what it feels like to reach the final station stop on the love train, she hires a young escort called Leo Grande for a couple of hours of fun in a hotel room.

A lot has been made of Thompson's age, but it's a shame for all the focus to go on that. This is a well scripted film filled with genuinely funny lines (the Katy Brand touch is evident), and although the term 'sex comedy' may fill you with horror, it is actually really well done. There are some poignant bits in the movie, which touch on loneliness, family heartbreak, and self confidence about your body, but none of it is done in a bawdy, Carry On style. There's also quite a bit of nervous quaffing of wine from the hotel mini bar, and an amusing encounter with one of Nancy's ex-students at the beginning of one of the meetings in the hotel bar.

Emma Thompson said in a recent interview she decided not to go on a diet for the role, as the character she plays wouldn't have done, and I really believed in her playing this role. I was rooting for Nancy. Listen out for a nice exchange about an Aga, a toe curling line about Rolf Harris and look out for loads of quintessentially British awkwardness. Its running time of 97 minutes zips by, and as we reach the zenith, will the earth move for Nancy? You'll have to watch it and find out! I think today (Thursday) might be the last day it's showing, sadly, but look out for my review of the new Thor next week, as that's out today. Happy film watching!

You can listen to Alex every weekday from 7am to 11am and on the 'Super Scoreboard' show on Saturdays from 3pm to 7pm, on Tameside Radio 103.6FM. 

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