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TV pap from giant of silver screen
Harrison Ford in Extraordinary Measures
EVEN if you feel that Harrison Ford and Brendan Fraser should no longer be included on the A-list of movie stars, they're still household names.
Both have appeared in some pretty average films of late, and that's being kind, so EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES (PG: Sony) is unlikely to fill you with too much optimism.
This fact-based drama is the first production from TV network offshoot CBS Films – and the company's small-screen roots are plain to see.
But if you stick with it, you should find it has been a worthwhile viewing experience.
Fraser plays John Crowley, a medical company executive and father-of-three, whose two younger children have a debilitating genetic illness.
When the medical establishment fails them, Crowley seeks out irascible scientist Dr Robert Stonehill (Ford), whose pioneering but underfunded research may point to a possible cure.
Fraser is surprisingly convincing as a distraught parent, while Ford plays his character as a cold professional, more concerned with his reputation than children's lives. Also look out for a good performance from Keri Russell in the thankless role of put-upon wife and mother.
While the film manages to balance its thriller and weepie elements without ladling on the emotion or wallowing in sentimentality, it's ultimately a TV-movie disease-of-the-week special with Hollywood actors.
> THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG (U: Walt Disney), the famous studio's heralded return to hand-drawn animation, features its first African-American cartoon lead.
Set in New Orleans in the Roaring Twenties, waitress Tiana has a lifelong dream of owning her own restaurant. But a witch doctor's curse on playboy Prince Naveen transforms him into a frog, and when the ambitious and hard-working Tiana agrees to kiss him she is also changed.
True love never runs smoothly, although it inevitably beckons after a bumpy start.
The zany antics of Tiana's creature pals will get the kids laughing, especially trumpet-playing alligator Louis and Cajun firefly Ray, but by tweaking the original fairy tale, Disney has stretched the story rather thin.
Randy Newman's jazzy songs are nothing to write home about and there's nothing that approaches the wit or cleverness of The Little Mermaid or Aladdin, the previous work of directors John Musker and Ron Clements.
The animation can't be faulted and the vibrant French Quarter voodoo scenes are impressive, but it lacks the magical quality of Disney's more memorable efforts.
> Leo Tolstoy's final days are the subject of true-story drama THE LAST STATION (15: Optimum), a film that ends up delivering less than the sum of its parts despite the fine cast.
Christopher Plummer certainly looks the part as the Russian writer, complete with flowing white beard and peasant's garb.
Sparks fly between him and Countess Sofya Tolstoy (Helen Mirren) during their violent arguments over the posthumous rights to his works.
Tolstoy has been convinced – by Paul Giamatti's scheming acolyte – to leave them to the people. She wants them for the family. Full stop.
The film's weakness is that many scenes are diluted by the recurring focus on secretary Valentin Bulgakov, and although James McAvoy plays the character well, the role doesn't generate much interest.
At the end of the day, director Michael Hoffman fails to pull the package together, lacking the inspiration his stars and his subject clearly have in spades.
> Straight-to-DVD comedy HOUSEBROKEN (15: Showbox) sees diminutive Danny DeVito cast as Cathkart, a recently retired firefighter looking forward to his golden years.
Ruining his plans are his two jobless, twenty-something slacker sons, both of whom are reluctant to leave the luxury and security of the family home. To teach them a lesson in self-sufficiency, Cathkart goes on holiday leaving the clueless pair with an empty fridge, no money and no electricity.
TOP TEN: 1.The Book Of Eli; 2.Did You Hear About The Morgans? 3.Armored; 4.Daybreakers; 5.It's Complicated; 6.Edge Of Darkness; 7.Up In The Air; 8.Avatar; 9.The Road; 10.Brothers.Chart supplied by Blockbuster
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Weather for Leighton Buzzard
Tuesday 22 May 2012
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