FINDING DORY [2016]

13 years after the wonderfully crafted Finding Nemo, Disney, Pixar & director Andrew Stanton make a much-anticipated return to their underwater world with Finding Dory.
The lovable blue tang fish with a short-term memory sets out to find her long lost parents leading her to a dizzying adventure in a Californian aquatic park where she meets all sorts of weird and wonderful characters.
I entered into the film a little cautious, thinking it couldn't stand up to the original that didn't really need a sequel but after an awkward first 15 minutes, I found myself at ease and constantly laughing at the story unfolding before me.  It manages to pack in a profoundly emotional punch, some hilarious moments for all ages and enough warmth to forgive any of it's very minor short-comings.

4 septopus out of 5

THE SKELETON TWINS [2014]

Writer/director Craig Johnson's The Skeleton Twins does a great job at showcasing comedian Bill Hader & Kristen Wiig's talents apart from their usual goofy fare.
Two severely depressed twins, who haven't spoken in ten years, reunite to find a twisted sort of comfort within each other.  Amidst all the slit wrists, pill-popping, pedophilia and various other dark topics, there's a surprising amount of funny warmth that never feels out of place.  It's not slapstick funny but more like sharing awkward jokes with your loved ones in the darkest of times, something I think we're all too familiar with but never speak of outside the moment.  The story steers way off track for awhile and hurts the film as a whole.  It's not a great movie and I wish it were better because I'm really quite fond of it.

3 goldfish out of 5

MUPPETS MOST WANTED [2014]

Da Ali G Show writer/director James Bobin returns for a second run with Jim Henson's lovable creations in Muppets Most Wanted.
Like the preceding film, this one is self-aware and not afraid to admit that the "sequel is never quite as good", so with that fuzzy, googly-eyed elephant out of the room we're allowed to sit back and never stop grinning from the silliness we're embarking on.  Oddly enough it does explore some darker areas of the Muppet world but never enough to steer right off track from the fun.  Ricky Gervais and Tina Fey's comic skills are sadly put to waste here but it's Ty Burrell who steals every single scene he's in and that makes up for more than enough.
It might not be as great as the previous film but it's pretty darned close.

3½ pink frogs & green pigs out of 5

MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN [2014]

I didn't think I'd want to see a CGI animated update of an old Rocky & Bullwinkle cartoon.
Mr. Peabody & Sherman proved me wrong with it's high energy, non-stop humor and all around time-travelling romp of a good time.
Directed by The Lion King's Rob Minkoff, the film is surprisingly fast-paced, jammed with witty historical jokes and enough heart to keep you smiling when the credits begin rolling.  It's nothing like it's source material but that really doesn't matter because, let's face it, the original cartoon was about as much fun as watching paint dry in a funeral home.
By no means will this become a classic but it's got enough flash and enthusiasm to enjoy multiple viewings and then some.  

3½ creepy boys out of 5

DAWN OF THE DEAD [2004]

More miss than hit director Zack Snyder thrusts his rabid fitness zombies on us in the 2004 remake of the George A. Romero classic Dawn Of The Dead.

With some help from a strong cast and a impressionable script courtesy of wackjob James Gunn, Snyder's version manages to heavily entertain with homages galore and stick out from the rest of the tired zombie genre.  It's bloody vicious, at times hilarious and ruthless fun that delivers the flesh-eating goods by the buckets.

3½ Night Of The Living Dead vehicle accidents out of 5