Outcome (2026)

A grown up child star, obsessed with his public image and increasingly out of touch with the world, embarks on an apology tour to get ahead of a possible scandal. 10 minutes into this movie, I knew it was going to be high-strung and completely exhausting. Director Jonah Hill is clearly trying too hard to stay hip and relevant. Biggest laugh was a throwaway line during the end credits.

1 Google search out of 5

There's Something About Mary (1998)

Poor lovestruck loser Ted (Ben Stiller) never got over the girl of his dreams after an incident in his youth left him scarred. Years later, he hires a shady investigator to track her down and that's when matters get complicated.

This remains one of my most memorable theater experiences. Full of broad belly laughs, you hardly ever see this type of "swing for the fences" comedy anymore. It's refreshing to visit all these years later because it still has the same effect on me. It's the perfect marriage between gross-out humor and heart that really sticks the landing and cements it as a modern comedy classic.

5 squirts of hair gel out of 5

The Mask (1994)

Stanley Ipkiss is a mild-mannered bank teller who is treated like a doormat by all until he comes across a magical mask that taps into his id and unleashes his inner superhero. Full of trademark catchphrases and Carrey's dynamic ability to turn himself into a cartoon character, the CGI is almost unnecessary here.

Based on the Dark Horse comic of the same name, the bright and bold color scheme at times reminded me of Batman Forever, which Carrey would go on to star in the next year, while Cameron Diaz (in her first role) is smokin' hot as a femme fatale that brings to mind Jessica Rabbit in Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

It's a bit of self-indulgence and wish fulfillment, but satisfying at every turn.

4 wolf whistles out of 5

Back in Action (2025)

A formulaic action comedy about a married retired spy couple who try to keep their perilous past hidden from their kids. You get the sense they were aiming for something cool and sexy like Mr. & Mrs. Smith, but it's all so boring and safe and insultingly predictable. Cameron Diaz came out of "retirement" after a decade in order to star in this shitty Netflix vehicle with Jamie Foxx, but instead delivered an early contender for worst film of the year.

0 petrol pump flame throwers out of 5

Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003)

I feel the throttle ought to have remained close to where it was at for the first movie, because upping the action to almost super-hero levels of ability makes the sequel feel like unintentional self-parody. If the scene that opens the farce (before the title appears) makes you cringe, then prepare for the worst, because things get even more moronic later on. The homages to other media feel forced, and the underlying worry of separation and outside commitments, which does actually play into the main plot, is as contrived as Justin Theroux's Irish accent. A pinch of decent subtext could've saved the story, but nothing other than residency on the cutting room floor could've stopped the action scenes from shitting over the potential for more light-hearted fun.

1½ whip tricks out of 5

Charlie's Angels (2000)

If the goal of the Charlie's Angels reboot was movie escapism on a superficial level, then it succeeded. The whole is heightened by the feeling that the "elite crime fighting trio" of Dylan, Alex and Natalie (Drew Barrymore, Lucy Liu, and Cameron Diaz, respectively) are having a blast while making it. The story is pretty thin and the primary villains are forgettable, but for every weak link (e.g. Sam Rockwell, Tom Green) there's a stronger one doing its utmost to draw attention away from the faults. In the latter category there's Crispin Glover, great use of chart music, playful stereotypes, ridiculous disguises, and a dynamic approach that never misses an opportunity to make its leading ladies shine. And for fans of the original TV series, the voice of John Forsythe.

3 bird calls out of 5

Gambit (2012)

A straight-to-DVD remake of a 1966 Ronald Neame film of the same name.
It stars Colin Firth as a pained art curator who plans to fleece a rich and bastardly Alan Rickman of a very large sum of money. He can't do it alone, however, so enlists the help of a Texan chicken-plucker named PJ Puznowski (Cameron Diaz), who makes an already average film even worse.
The big draw for a lot of people will be that its final screenplay was penned by the Coen brothers; and while a sizeable portion of it has their wit it lacks the timing and finesse that they themselves usually bring to a production.
Firth is the obvious comedy highlight, but a special mention for the two Savoy Hotel desk clerks is definitely in order.

2½ unforeseen wrinkles out of 5

Sex Tape (2014)

Director Jake Kasdan reunites with cast from Bad Teacher in this wacky lowbrow comedy written by Jason Segel. In an attempt to spice up their sex life, a reluctantly ordinary couple film a homegrown porn but end up accidentally sending it to all their friends, family and co-workers via the cloud. The all-too-modern subject matter is fitting in this age of apps and iPads but it still comes off somewhat dated. I would hate to watch this film two years from now. Supporting performances from Rob Corddry, Rob Lowe and Jack Black add some memorable, offbeat scenes but most of the comedy delivered between the principal actors falls flat.

1½ Schlomits out of 5

THE COUNSELOR [2013]

With Ridley Scott directing a star-studded cast in an original screenplay by novelist Cormac McCarthy I was expecting quite a bit from The Counselor but in the end found much to be desired.
The first hour drags quite a bit with more than enough quirky criminal monologues about next to nothing to make you wonder if it's supposed to be funny.  The second half of the film is where things get interesting and more intense as several themes of sexuality, human nature, death and consequences begin to be explored.  McCarthy's novels are near poetic perfection but his film dialogue isn't quite as interesting and this film is built on spoken words rather than actions.  There's plenty of memorable moments but it simply doesn't satisfy the hunger for a smarter thriller than this.

3 car fuckers out of 5

A LIFE LESS ORDINARY [1997]

The adorably malicious A Life Less Ordinary is director Danny Boyle's version of a romantic fantasy comedy.
There's guns, headshots, car wrecks, musical numbers, animation, robots, angels and bank robberies, in short, everything that makes a good rom-com.  Unfortunately after you're done taking this fun ride of a road trip you can't help but feel there never really was any point to it all.  No matter it's really just good fun without a lingering aftertaste or really nary an afterthought as well.

3 gravediggers out of 5

Being John Malkovich (1999)

An unashamedly weird and hugely enjoyable film that offers up complex Freudian concepts and then somehow makes you not care that they get whitewashed over, because it was into a large tin of pure originality that writer Charlie Kaufman dipped his brush. It's the kind of comedy that makes you smile wryly, but would be equally at home in the tragedy section. If you over-analyse the plot too much it’ll start to turn in on itself, so just roll with it and have your faith restored in cinema for a short time.
John Malkovich is wonderful as... er...  Malkovich, and Cusack gives one of his best performances ever.

3½ low overheads out of 5

THE GREEN HORNET [2011]

Director Michael Gondry's bromance superhero adaptation of the 1930's radio serial, The Green Hornet reeks of studio interference, last minute re-shoots & rewrites and multiple cast changes.

Besides Gondry's beautiful use of color and inventive camera work, everything else is just a huge mess.  The cast all look like they know they're out of their element except for Cameron Diaz who seems natural.  I suppose she's used to being in shitfests.  A misguided flop of a film that I so wanted to be a lovable underdog but fails on all levels.

2 one-inch punches out of 5

Bad Teacher (2011)

Trying desperately to follow in the footsteps of Terry Zwigoff's Bad Santa (2003), this piece of shit fails in every possible capacity (in particular, HUMOR). Gold digger scumbag WHORE Cameron Diaz doesn't give a shit about anyone but herself until she meets nerdy Justin Timberlake and decides to raise money to purchase fake tits in order to impress him. The stupidity of this premise is staggering. She curses, smokes pot, cheats, steals, doesn't teach her students a dime's worth of knowledge, learns nothing, and yet somehow at the end of the day, she's hailed as the protagonist of this movie. Fuck off.

0 Worst Movie Of The Year out of 5

THE BOX (2009)

Cult-film director, Richard Kelly once again sets up a bizarre Twilight Zone-esque story set in a different era, that left audiences and critics generally baffled.
Kelly sets up a fine little tale, based upon an old short story which was coincidentally adapted into an '80's episode of The Twilight Zone. The muted tones and colors look exactly like David Fincher's work, which comes as no surprise as Kelly said he had no interest in making The Box, until he saw Fincher's Zodiac. Diaz and Mardsen both give subtle, believable performances which I was surprised to enjoy as I don't particularly like either of the stars' work.
While not perfect, The Box held my interest and intrigued me with it's bizarre setup and storytelling.

3 Whacked-out babysitters out of 5