Victor Rebikoff Welcome to the movies at PS News.
   Each week, PS News's film critic Victor Rebikoff will highlight the latest offerings from the silver screen and share his expert commentary for our information and guidance.

Bridesmaids

   Director: Paul Feig, Universal Pictures, Rated MA, 125 mins

This puerile rendition of a ‘chick flick’ from TV director Paul Feig (TV Series Men Behaving Badly) is really an eye opener to some women not only behaving badly but simply being outrageously rude.
   This is demonstrated by compatriot bridesmaid Megan (Melissa McCarthy) in one scene doing her business in the basin of the ladies bathroom as the toilet is being used by another bridesmaid, while in another scene the bride herself Lillian (Maya Rudolph) who has the runs goes out onto the street and does her business there still dressed in her bridal outfit.
Bridesmaids
   Kristen Wiig (Despicable Me) who also co-wrote the script takes on the key role of Annie, maid of honour to best friend and bride to be Lillian but finds herself in stiff competition from Lillian’s other close friend and bridesmaid Helen (Aussie actress and X-Men First Class star Rose Bryne) portraying a somewhat snobbish but wealthy woman tasked with organising the pre events and actual marriage ceremony.
   In the course of unfolding events leading up to Lillian’s wedding and throughout, Wiig displays an annoying portrayal of her character.
   In addition to Byrne, the only other role worth highlighting is that of award winning actress Jill Clayburgh (An Unmarried Woman) playing Annie’s mum who regrettably passed away, making this movie her last performance.
   There is no doubt that some female movie goers may find Bridesmaids entertaining but in the main others will deplore the need for a movie to resort to such instances of toilet humour especially showing scenes of women behaving badly.
VIC'S VERDICT:   1 ½ Rubber Stamp


From Time to Time

   Director: Julian Fellowes, Hopscotch Productions, Rated PG, 95 mins

Academy award winner Julian Fellowes (Gosford Park) directs an enchanting time travel movie that is a hauntingly charming story spanning two worlds and two centuries.
   Adapted from Lucy Boston’s best loved children’s book The Chimneys of Green Knowe from which Fellowes wrote the script, it IS essentially the captivating adventure of a young boy who can mysteriously travel between the 18th and 19th century and in so doing uncovers both family secrets and hidden treasures-besides altering certain events from the past.
   From Time to Time depicts the story of 13 year old Tolly (Alex Etel from The Water Horse) who during World War 2 is sent to stay with his estranged grandmother Mrs Oldknow (perfectly played by Harry Potter star Maggie Smith) while awaiting news of his father who is missing in action.
From Time to Time
   In the course of learning about his family’s history and checking out his grandmother’s stately home, Tolly discovers that he can travel between centuries and interact with ghostly apparitions of past inhabitants (relations) of the mansion who lived in it in the previous century.
   One such person Tolly encounters and helps is Susan (Eliza Hope Bennett), the blind daughter of Captain Oldknow (Hugh Bonneville) who provides her with Jacob (Kwayedza Kureya), an African companion.
   And while Susan’s father’s is away in the Napoleonic War her brother Sefton (Douglas Booth) influenced by the head servant Caxton (Dominic West) uses the opportunity to persecute Jacob, resulting in a huge fire and the theft of the family’s jewels.
   Even though Etel’s portrayal of Tolly falls somewhat short of his character, the rest of the cast perform their roles admirably (especially that of Mrs Oldknow by academy award winner Smith).
   Apart from the splendid cinematic settings and the period costumes it is both the atmospherics and storyline that make this movie such an entertaining experience and one that should have special appeal for children during school holidays.
VIC'S VERDICT:   3 ½ Rubber Stamp

To find out more about Victor Rebikoff click here.

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