Cert – 18, Run-time – 1 hour 38 minutes, Director – Rodo Sayagues

Blind former Navy SEAL Norman Nordstrom (Stephen Lang) finds himself having to prevent his adopted daughter, Phoenix (Madelyn Grace) from being kidnapped from a gang of home invaders.

There are plenty of horror franchises and sequels that take a shift to focus on the villain of the previous film/s. While there may eventually have been a more comedic edge we still knew that what the new protagonist was doing was wrong. Now, in the case of Don’t Breathe 2, the actions of former Navy SEAL Norman Nordstrom (Stephen Lang) are seemingly forgotten about, left behind for the audience to hopefully not throw back to either, as he attempts to redeem himself by protecting his adopted daughter of eight years, Phoenix (Madelyn Grace). The pair are under threat when a group of home invaders attempt to kidnap Phoenix, who has lived most of her life in relative isolation, under the protection and survival training of the blind man she believes to be her real father.

“It’s not me you need to be afraid of” claims one of the gang “but the man standing next to you”. Throughout we see Lang’s character’s previous combat experience put to further effect in true gory style. There’s a bump from the 15 rating of the previous film to an 18 here, and its understandable why due to some of the more detailed bloodshed depicted on screen. All while you ask yourself at various intervals whether the film wants you to sympathise with its protagonist or not – it’s certainly difficult to knowing what happened 2016’s original surprise hit. When not pondering this question, focusing more on the action, there’s a fair deal of thrills to be found.

Director Rodo Sayagues, who co-writes the film with returning partner and first film director Fede Álvarez, makes the most of almost one location for a large period of time. The majority of the film is set in Norman and Phoenix’s home, as they use the various different floors to escape, rapidly plan and sometimes attack the trespassers, who it’s unknown why they truly want Phoenix. With all the gunshots and shattered windows it’s certainly convenient that the house doesn’t have any neighbours. While not all of the goings on create a true sense of tension there’s still an engaging nature to the selection of sequences as they play out, pushed further by the idea that they are all in one location. A location which never feels restrictive and still provides the characters, and the film, with enough places to move and hide so that hope for freedom is still glimpsed a within the sense of worry and entrapment that each figure feels.

As things progress and the plot continues its home invasion theme, although with increasing revenge details, it becomes clear that his is very much a different affair to the first film. More in terms of the supporting cast that grows overtime as more people are brought in to fight against the strength of the skilled man who poses such a threat to them. It’s clear that Grace’s character simply can’t catch a break. It’s with her that much of your sympathies lie, constantly caught in a spiral of threat and negativity. Wishing for freedom of some kind, only being met with things being shattered, falling down around her. The horror tones are felt throughout, particularly within the levels of bloodshed and body horror that line plenty of the fight and action sequences. Yet, as the narrative progresses a thriller sensibility is brought further into play, and for Phoenix as she discovers more about herself there’s an occasional slight dramatic beat that manages to land a similarly slight effect on the viewer.

By leaning further into Phoenix’s side of things there’s a chance for the film to form a better connection with the viewer, or at least engage them a bit more within the events that are occurring on screen. You may not be able to feel the same for Lang’s character – despite providing plenty of good action moments and the efforts that he puts into saving his long-hidden adopted daughter – and that further makes the decision to gradually form him as a means to save and protect Phoenix, emphasising her bond with him more than the other way around, one with both its pros and cons. Nonetheless, while there may be some issues in terms of the film’s choice of protagonist, there’s still a decent enough – if not always tense – home invasion horror here. One that occasionally feels more in a traditional vein, yet not without its heavier inclusion of gore.

Amongst uncertainties to whether you should sympathise with Don’t Breathe 2’s core protagonist, there’s still an engaging and gory, if not always tense, home invasion horror in place.

Release Date – 13th August, Cert – 12, Run-time – 1 hour 55 minutes, Director – Shawn Levy

An NPC (Ryan Reynolds) discovers that he is living inside a video game, which he must help reveal contains stolen code before it is shut down.

The most exciting thing in Guy’s routine life, aside from his pet goldfish Goldie, is the fact that he works at the bank. Ryan Reynolds announces this fact with a sense of wonderment, as if nothing could be better – not even the same cup of scolding hot coffee he gets every morning. While he’s working various sunglass-donning “heroes” of Free City burst in to rob the bank. The sunglasses indicate that these are players attempting to complete missions in a video game, however, Guy is unaware of this until being led away from his programmed course by stranger MolotovGirl (Jodie Comer).

Actually called Millie, the advanced player is attempting to investigate Free City in the hope of discovering what she believes is code that was stolen from her. However, with her fellow creator Keys (Joe Keery) working for Free City owner Antoine (Taika Waititi) she finds herself going it alone before the upcoming launch of Free City 2: Carnage. And thus, Guy – with his newfound knowledge that he is actually an Non-Player Character – begins to help his potential romantic interest, still unaware that he’s simply a digital character, while becoming a worldwide phenomenon in the process. There’s a world of glitches, powerups and plenty of streamer cameos ahead of them. The film certainly gives a good impression of an open-world video game and the explosive goings on that can happen within them.

However, such elements are little used over the near two hour course of the narrative. Often they’re only glimpsed at to further show how unaware Guy is of what his life actually is, or to show Antoine’s staff, namely Utkarsh Ambudkar’s Mouser, trying to prevent him and Millie from revealing that there is stolen content in the game. Items are deleted and landscapes change, but largely most things seem to happen in the moment and for plot convenience, although the film still manages to have a feeling that it’s perhaps around 15 minutes too long. Yet, such things aren’t huge issues when watching the film, what does get in the way is the lacking response to the attempted humour. Once again, Reynolds seems to be slightly riffing on his Deadpool character. While not completely, you can’t help but hear slight hints of the character in lines such as “it’s like losing my virginity” on tasting the same old cup of takeaway coffee – but perhaps this is also down to just how associated Reynolds has become with the character.

Some gags feel as if they fall somewhat flat from repetition, or a slightly uninspired. However, most of the time they just don’t seem to properly click. There’s an occasional feel to a couple of scenes and lines of dialogue that things were revisited and pieced together overtime, made up in the moment in a way just beyond improvisation. The general narrative survives and comes out fine – if not always completely landing an impact, although you only really want to pick up on certain details a little while afterwards – just the laughs never quite properly land. Over the course of the run-time there are a handful of amusing moments dotted around, and a number of flashy appearances likely to gain a big response from audiences. Where the film largely falters is in terms of its humour – which is often seemingly supposed to be the film’s main tone and draw.

For the most part Free Guy is a relatively harmless film. It passes by and certainly has some amusing moments that prevent it from feeling bland and unexciting. It’s a generally fine piece of work, not awful and not brilliant. However, it mostly falls, despite a cast of actors each putting in a good effort, because of the lack of effective humour. Creating the feeling that the film has had the reins pulled in on it a bit. As if it wasn’t able to be quite as free with its gags as it perhaps might have wanted to be.

The video game elements of Free Guy are well done, and create a number of amusing elements in its world. However, the majority of gags don’t feel as free and unfortunately falter despite the efforts of the cast.

Cert – 18, Run-time – 1 hour 26 minutes, Director – Janicza Bravo

Pole dancer Zola (Taylour Paige) finds herself trapped in an increasingly dark and exploitative road trip, after being invited by a relative stranger (Riley Keough).

There’s an air of mistrust around almost everything in Zola. While the Twitter thread based story acknowledges that there’s a fair deal of fiction thrown into the mix, deciding what’s true and what isn’t doesn’t cause this feeling. It’s created by the various characters that central character Zola (Taylour Paige) encounters on her road trip to Florida. Invited by relative stranger Stefani (Riley Keough) after the two discover, while Zola is waiting Riley’s table, that they’re both exotic dancers, there’s a sense of unease as Zola is crammed into a car that feels as if it could be heading anywhere. And often that is the case. Co-writer (with Jeremy O. Harris) and director Janicza Bravo often places the camera as if it’s at the front of the car, barrelling down empty streets in the middle of the night – giving the impression that there truly is no way out once Zola finds herself trapped in an increasingly uncomfortable world. A feeling pushed further by the occasional use of Mica Levi’s haunting score.

After having just signed up to dance she finds herself being sold for sex by Stefani’s nameless pimp (Colman Domingo – often referred to as her roommate). Although often standing aside and refusing to engage in anything, instead seeing Stefani go through everything, there’s a fear that negative repercussions will emerge. There’s a fierce sense of darkness within Domingo’s performance. His character is prone to snapping at any moment, losing his temper and effectively holding the two young women prisoner. He’s the complete opposite of Stefani’s awkward, stammering boyfriend Derrek (Nicholas Braun); a character who himself shows his own fear in the situation that he finds himself inadvertently – yet somehow often excluded from properly being – involved in.

As things progress over the 48 hours that the film covers, in a much shorter 86 minute run-time, they manage to engage you further. Once past the initial deception of a dance trip and the situations become increasingly uncomfortable, and indeed risky, there’s a truly dark world that’s uncovered over time. A slight fear factor for Zola is uncovered, her mistrust is shown to have been true. Even in early scenes when simply conversing with Stefani are there subtle facial twitches and changes within Paige’s performance that hint at her characters’ uncertainty towards her new, sudden alleged friend. It’s certainly as the true intentions and behaviour of Domingo’s exploitative figure are shown that things pick up and rattle along the tracks with a quickened pace, sense of depth and heightened ability to engage.

Playing with fact and fiction you don’t always know what to believe, but that’s a concern for afterwards. For the short, yet effectively used, run-time of the film you’re planted into the world that the characters are thrown into – some off-screen, others on. Everything is allowed to happen freely as you simply witness it all unfolding over time, often the same going for the titular character who often acts as the humorously opinionated narrator for the film. She speaks her mind and it’s clear that this is a film that is replaying in her mind as she tells it – living up to the promise that it’s “full of suspense”, particularly from her point of view. Things snowball into dangerous territory for many of the characters, and looking into the controlling and deceptive side of such scenarios – far from revelling in a sexualised nature, which it doesn’t go near or seem to consider. Once in it seems as if there’s no way out for Zola, and the film that shares her name puts this across, simply contrasting it with an eventually fast-paced, well-flowing hybrid of genres.

Once it seems the main character is trapped in the dark world she has been thrown into, Zola is an effectively tense mix of genres, fact and fiction that captures the spirit in which the story itself is relayed back to the viewer.

Cert – U, Run-time – 1 hour 35 minutes, Director – Kirk DeMicco

Kinkajou Vivo (Lin-Manuel Miranda) travels from Cuba to Florida to deliver an old love song from his owner (Juan de Marcos González) to a long-distant retiring musician (Gloria Estefan).

After the fizzing energy of this summer’s In The Heights Lin-Manuel Miranda returns to power another film’s musical soundtrack in the form of Sony Animation’s latest, Vivo. Miranda, who has formulated the idea for well over a decade, takes on the titular lead role of a Cuban kinkajou, happily spending his days singing and dancing in the streets with his elderly human counterpart Andrés (Juan de Marcos González). However, despite the close bond between the two that fuels their crowd-drawing performances Andrés has a musical past that Vivo is unaware of. It comes calling him back when former romantic interest Marta (Gloria Estefan) writes from Florida asking her former collaborator to perform in her farewell show. Andrés views this as a sign to finally deliver a years old love song he wrote when the pair parted, him unable to express his proper feelings towards her all those decades ago when the opportunity of success and bigger audiences arose for Marta.

Despite initial protests Vivo finds himself travelling to the much busier suburban streets of Tampa. Separated from his friend he instead finds himself in the company of unruly and enthusiastic child Gabi (Ynairaly Simo). Preferring to do anything but spend time selling cookies with the other, much more passionate, Sand Dollar Scouts (a trio of which are the source of many of the film’s best jokes), Gabi takes it upon herself to assist Vivo in travelling the four hour plus journey to Miami to deliver Andrés’ song to Marta before it’s too late. Along the road, or rather throughout the jungle-like environment in which they find themselves drifting into, there’s plenty of musical numbers and brightly-coloured characters within the Roger Deakins assisted world to keep things moving, each providing a decent amount of amusement in their own way. Alongside avoiding giving the film a slightly episodic feel around the mid-section when briefly; and often conveniently, popping in and out of the proceedings.

It’s obvious that Miranda is behind the soundtrack. The songs have a distinct style and feel to them that, especially when he performs them himself, pulse with his energy. Yet, personally, nothing completely stands out as potentially memorable. The tracks are certainly good for the time that they’re on, but none properly grab you or bring you further into the world or unfolding journey. What starts and ends as a film with music as a core point doesn’t exactly push it aside, but perhaps somewhat dims it in exchange for more focus on the story. Although, the songs aren’t forgotten about and are certainly still present throughout. The majority seem to be somewhat forgettable and appear to be moved on from rather quickly, not leaving a great deal of impact afterwards. And while the film itself might not leave a great impact on the viewer it’s certainly a good source of entertainment while it’s on. At a short 95 minutes it certainly doesn’t outstay its welcome and provides decent enough mid-summer family streaming fare.

Like the musical numbers, Vivo’s perhaps not going to be the most memorable, however it’s amusing mid-summer family content for the time it’s on.

Cert – 15, Run-time – 2 hours 19 minutes, Director – Tom McCarthy

An American father (Matt Damon) searches France for the man his daughter (Abigail Breslin) claims committed the murder that she has been falsely imprisoned for.

Much like Matt Damon’s central character, Tom McCarthy’s latest, Stillwater, wastes no time in rushing straight into its narrative. You’re thrown straight into the middle of it, almost feeling that perhaps a detail or two has been missed, as Damon’s Bill meets with his daughter, Allison (Abigail Breslin), who is serving a nine year sentence for the murder of a collegemate who she was in a relationship with at the time. It’s a long journey from Oklahoma to the Marseille, however he makes it regularly to check in on how she’s doing, especially as she claims to have been falsely imprisoned. On discovering further details about the murder and the events that led up to it Bill steps away from lawyers, judges and his own daughter’s wishes and begins to investigate himself. Trying to find the man who Allison claims did commit the crime.

All thoughts that something may have been missed out are quickly dispensed of and you find yourself almost unknowingly being tightly gripped by the film as it travels across its narrative. A tone alike to a neo-western thriller is established as Damon finds himself diving further into unknown and uncertain territories looking for dark answers in dark places. And yet, this isn’t an entirely dark film. Yes, there are moments of tension and slight chase-adjacent action, and certainly there are some dark character moments throughout, but co-writer (with Marcus Hinchey, Thomas Bidegain and Noé Debré) and director McCarthy ensures some lighter moments are dashed throughout the frantic investigation.

Bill soon finds himself residing with theatre actress Virginie (Camille Cottin) and her young daughter Maya (Lilou Siavoud). For the most part the relationship is a close and friendly one. There’s an almost family dynamic to the relationship, at least between Bill and Maya – she teaches him French, while he speaks English which she pretends to understand – a bond that he’s perhaps missed over the years with his real daughter having been in prison in another country for so long. However, as slight romantic tones are brought in part way through the second half of the film things begin to slightly crumble. Initially the shifts in tone feel well done, especially as this isn’t a huge tension-filled thriller, however as more elements are brought in towards the close of the film the run-time is pushed on and it begins to feel overlong. At 139 minutes there’s a lot going on in the final stages and some of it does feel as if it could be dialled down to avoid the slight dip that begins to appear. It leads to an ending that feels unsure of itself. In terms of where it should end, when and how.

And yet, before all of this, there’s a large proportion of the plot that is perhaps unaware of just how good it is. There are occasionally tones of hopeful-outsider-Oscar-contender within Stillwater, and yet they never scream or shout and beg for awards style attention. And perhaps that’s because of the western-thriller tone and the way that it brings you in and engages you within the personal search that Damon’s often dead-pan central character embarks on, in the hope of freeing his daughter from prison four years early, justice for the allegedly wrongly convicted five which she’s already served. A narrative that holds your interest and intrigue, while managing to throw in some dashes of evenly balanced tension and darkness within the drama, and lighter elements of bonding between Bill, Virginie and Maya.

The main issues come in the fact that it becomes aware of everything it hasn’t done that it’s wanted to do and either rushes or it briefly mentions points in the latter stages of the piece, making it feel somewhat rushed and overstuffed itself. Once again, by the time it gets to the ending, the film feels overlong and unsure as to where to go or what to do when to wrapping up its story. It’s a gradually declining nature to what had become an engaging, and at times thrilling, drama. It’s a shame that, like Matt Damon’s character in his research throughout the streets of Marseille, what begins to work so well was perhaps that way because it held off certain details until a rushed panic towards the end.

After being thrown into it, Stillwater takes time to grip you with its engaging tone and style. However, it then rushes its other ideas and plot points at the uncertain end of an overlong film.

Cert – 12, Run-time – 1 hour 49 minutes, Director – Augustine Frizzell

While researching for an obituary, journalist Ellie (Felicity Jones) unveils a series of unrelated letters telling the story of a lost love affair.

There’s an almost dreamy nature to the idealistic portrait of a picturesque 60s love affair in this adaptation of Jojo Moyes’ 2012 novel of the same name. As Shailene Woodley’s Jennifer and Callum Turner’s journalist Anthony meet in the Southern French heat a spark is formed in their initial debates, apologies and insistent tours of the area. The lengths of their relationship only skyrocket from there with plenty of very steamy moments for what is a 12A rated film. It differs greatly from the grey array of flings that we see modern day London-based journalist Ellie (Felicity Jones) wake up to after breaking up with her boyfriend of eight years – only seeing him in early pictures towards the start of the film. There are two distinct tones established and it does sometimes lead the film to feel like two different films entirely.

This is even with the links between the two stories. Ellie, while researching for an obituary, uncovers a mysterious letter between the two lovers and begins to delve deeper into their affair – Jennifer is married, although with little connection, to wealthy industrialist Laurence (Joe Alwyn). Jennifer herself is piecing together her own experiences, after suffering memory loss due to a car crash we’re almost experiencing a flashback within a flashback. It appears that we spend the majority of time in the mid-60s settings, with their brightly coloured costumes and scenic views it’s often like looking a ta holiday brochure from the time, and this is certainly where the film’s strengths lie. It almost feels as if just this story could run on its own and provide amusement enough – all before Jones’ near subplot comes more into play and effect in the second half of the piece, when things begin to balance out more with less jumping around.

Once out of the restrictions of just five minute segments with a somewhat cliché modern rom-com style – Ellie finds herself getting close to her paper’s archivist Rory (Nabhaan Rizwan), a relationship which doesn’t quite match the flare of Woodley and Turner’s; perhaps due to less screen-time – the narrative of the modern day based events is able to flow with more ease. They certainly pick up more once given more time to breathe, and the interactions of the cast, particularly the two central characters in this time, are advanced beyond the basics. Jones appears to feel more at home in the character, initially feeling slightly out of place due to being underused in the first half of the film where she’s given little screen time. However, as things begin to properly balance out and Ellie’s research and personal life begins to wrap around the unfolding and increasingly risky affair Augustine Frizzell’s film truly shows itself as one of two halves.

As the narrative finds its stride you begin to become more engaged with both stories that are being told – therefore forming a more effective impact when they finally begin to properly meet and develop together. There may still be some more conventional elements in place, but they don’t appear to be as obvious, and certainly don’t begin to remove anything from the film overall. It is perhaps proof that the lure of the 60s is the film’s biggest and best draw. Keeping the viewer in place to see how that pans out. However, there’s still amusement and engagement to be found elsewhere once everything is in play, and given more time to be explored. It just, much like the long-distanced lovers who tell their story through the various scattered letters, takes a bit of time for things to be explored and unravelled enough for this to kick in.

Certainly a film of two halves The Last Letter From Your Lover’s biggest draw is the picturesque 60s backdrop. Once out of cliché rom-com territory and given more time, the modern day segments help progress the story, even if its own relationship isn’t as strongly felt.

Cert – 15, Run-time – 2 hours 12 minutes, Director – James Gunn

A team of killers and villains is put together to destroy a sinister lab on a small South American island

As Michael Rooker’s Savant wipes a crushed bird’s blood from a ball he’s been throwing around his prison cell onto his trouser leg writer-director James Gunn makes clear that The Suicide Squad is an intensely different affair to DC’s 2016 misfire, Suicide Squad. Set as a standalone-sequel-reboot we see a similar formula of a taskforce of, some familiar, imprisoned killers and villains assembled to complete a deadly mission for the US government. In this case Task Force X (otherwise labelled the titular Suicide Squad) is sent to Corto Maltese, a small island in South America, to destroy Jotunheim, a mysterious lab run by The Thinker (Peter Capaldi) with a sinister experiment hidden inside the towering building.

With plenty of violence and fore within the explosive action Gunn never appears to cross a line with his film. Body parts fly across the screen – scene-stealer King Shark (Sylvester Stallone) can be seen casually gnawing on a human skull if he’s not proclaiming “nom nom” while eating a person whole – as characters often literally show off their skills and try to one-up each other. There’s a constant battle between reluctant member, and father, Bloodsport (Idris Elba) and over-patriotic Peacemaker (John Cena). Their feud demonstrates that Gunn recognises that despite the seriousness the characters are trying to display, they’re still characters in (often) odd, brightly-coloured costumes. It’s also nice to see the welcome return of Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn – embracing and continuing her much more colourful, not to mention entertaining, egg sandwich loving Birds Of Prey side.

The Suicide Squad stands out from many other comic-book adaptations of recent years. It feels unique in its style. Amongst the action and humour – of which there’s plenty of both – there’s a sense of threat and darkness running throughout it. Much of it coming from Viola Davis’ returning Amanda Waller, who recruits and sends out the team in the first place. She runs with the extra detail her character is given in this feature, creating a dark, almost antagonistic presence; certainly one that creates a slight fear factor. An angered figure who asserts her authority at every possible second, eyes on the mission; without concern for others. It’s a tense, biting and, again, dark determination that contrasts greatly with that of the squad itself – who simply want to get their task over and done with, preferably alive by the end of it. Alongside a strong sense of mission within this film there’s also a clearer sense of a team unit, albeit one of people initially pushing others for the sake of their own survival. You find yourself forming a bond with a number of the on-screen figures, leading you to be further unprepared for the various twists and turns that the narrative takes.

Gunn has created a film where literally anything could happen to anyone at any time, and very often does. There’s a rush of excitement when it comes to the chaotic and unpredictable outcomes. All adding to the thrills and surprises that the film provides around plenty of its corners. It forms a truly unique piece of work amongst other blockbuster films of recent years. With The Suicide Squad, James Gunn, alongside his cast and crew, has created a bold achievement, the likes of which we might not see another of for a long time.

Bold, explosive, unpredictable and very gory and violent The Suicide Squad has a subtle yet sparkling dark streak within its action and humour. Never forgetting the fact that it poses not so serious characters in an explosively serious situation.

Cert – 12, Run-time – 2 hours 7 minutes, Director – Jaume Collet-Serra

Avid explorer Lily (Emily Blunt), alongside brother MacGregor (Jack Whitehall), enlists the help of boat skipper Frank (Dwayne Johnson) to take them down the Amazon, in the hope of finding a tree with petals with advanced healing powers.

As explorer Lily (Emily Blunt) gently cruises down the Amazon river, gazing at the many sights and colours on display, she comments to boat skipper Frank (Dwayne Johnson) that “it’s like drifting through the Garden of Eden”. While this isn’t quite the look and feel that Jungle Cruise creates for the viewer it certainly captures the theme park ride essence and spirit that inspired it. You can’t help but get caught up in the scenery which feels as if it could be directly taken from the long-standing Disneyland attraction. There are certainly plenty of moments, particularly within the film’s first act, where sequences of constant action, escapes and close calls give the impression that the film is trying to give the audience a feeling of being on a ride, with constant thrills and little room to properly breathe in-between them.

However, as things slightly calm down and the crew, which also consists of Lily’s much posher brother MacGregor (Jack Whitehall), the narrative is put further in place. Frank has been recruited to take the siblings down the Amazon so that Lily can find a mysterious petal known as the ‘tears of the moon’; said to have complete healing powers, which could revolutionise medicine. Unfortunately, the trio aren’t the only people searching for the petals. Hot on their tails, equipped with missile-launching submarine is German Prince Joachim (Jesse Plemons), who desires to use the petals to win the ongoing First World War. Tracing the steps of doomed 16th century conquistadors in hope of fulfilling his seemingly self-set mission.

There’s a lot going on in the film, and it certainly fills up the 127 minute run-time that it holds. Yet, focus does sometimes seem to shift every now and then from the core story and the various characters involved in it to a focus on an apparent connection between Lily and Frank. While Blunt and Johnson play convincing friends, where the film feels most comfortable with the characters’ relationship, when a romantic interest begins to come into play things slightly come apart. It’s not that their performances are bad – although Johnson, despite his ever-present charisma, doesn’t quite feel like the right choice for his role as a fraudulent and deceptive boat captain; certain moments come crashing down when revealed to be one of Frank’s elaborate setups – simply that the romantic line the film wants to create for them feels less preferable to the simply friendly bond that’s initially set up between the two.

It’s evident that Jungle Cruise had a big budget (around $200 million). It shows in much of the scenery, and some of the spectacle. And while, as already mentioned, there’s a certain visual flair to the piece the spectacle doesn’t always fully engage you. There’s not always a chance to properly drink it in as the camera cuts and changes so frequently – particularly during action sequences – and often doesn’t appear to have a proper focus, creating a dizzying distance from the film and the unfolding action at that moment.

Much like the narrative certain elements appear to have been seen before and don’t quite grab the viewer as much as the the cast and crew would perhaps hope. The film as a whole isn’t exactly bad, and there are certainly some watchable moments; it simply feels rather weak at certain intervals, and often feels as if it’s packing a bit too much in in certain scenes and sequences. The visual nature alone is simply not enough to keep you engaged within the exotic environment that surrounds the boat for large portions of the run-time. While the theme park look is a plus for Jungle Cruise, the occasional attempted style isn’t. Causing many moments to feel too chaotic and dizzying as you try to keep track of the action, and then the rather familiar plot on top of it.

Amongst the better films based on Disney theme park rides, Jungle Cruise both benefits and falters because of its theme park stylings. The performances and look are good, but the action and narrative often lack engagement.

Cert – 15, Run-time – 2 hours 21 minutes, Director – Edgar Wright

Documentary looking at the career of Ron and Russell Mael, the minds behind the songs of Sparks.

In many interviews for the documentary of their careers Ron and Russell Mael, the titular Sparks Brothers, have claimed that the only person who could properly capture their style and music in a film is Edgar Wright. On seeing the 25 album spanning documentary it’s hard to argue with this. Throughout the intentionally pointed-out visual gags that introduce the literal window in the somewhat mysterious lives and workings of the central duo, and indeed the film as a whole, there’s a shared sense of humour and respect from director to band, and vice versa. Wright credits himself as a “fanboy” of Sparks, delving deep into their songs and discography throughout the almost two and a half hour course of the film. There’s a lot to get through within the diverse selection of albums and tracks that the film, and its various talking heads, gives time to.

Present is a true celebration of the way that Sparks never leaned into what was truly popular at the moment, they simply continued to do their own thing (while experimenting with certain forms and genres – often meaning that they were ahead of the curve). If they did create something for the mainstream it was self aware and jokey – a dance track called Music That You Can Dance To is a highlight amongst a soundtrack full of earworms. Whether you’re already aware of Sparks, or; as many viewers may be, completely unaware of them, there’s likely to be plenty of songs going around your head for days to come after watching the film. The infectious heart and spirit of the siblings (who undeniably look wonderful for their ages!) filling each one. Never do any songs or albums feel rushed or skipped over. The run-time certainly allows for Wright to give enough time to the creations of his subjects, capturing the passion that there is for them and what makes them so unique.

There’s a point made that there could be hidden meanings and points within each song, and this is pointed out through dictionary definitions provided for words in the titles, which appear in bold, towering letters. It pushes the idea of the elusive nature of the band – something which made them wary of having a documentary made about them for so many years. The brothers themselves, while looking back at their career and a number of their songs and interactions with various band members, continue to have an air of mystery around them. Lyrics are looked into and recited, and yet it’s not so much for analysis, more amusement and certain figures saying how much they enjoy certain lines, even if they don’t always make sense – or simply how certain figures have interpreted them themselves. And with such a range of personalities, ranging from the likes of Beck, New Order and Duran Duran to Mike Myers, Jonathan Ross, Adam Buxton and the legend that is ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic, there are plenty of thoughts and opinions to hear. Yet, none are ever louder than others or appear to take precedence, while also not allowing the film to feel too busy.

With the interviews being shot in black and white, Wright allows for the brightly-coloured music videos, performances and brief animated segments to truly pop on the big screen. Further showing the imagination and creativity of the band. Bringing you further into their world, and perhaps even slightly their minds. It’s an interesting dive, and one that will certainly expand your playlist. Easing people in, no matter what their familiarity with Sparks is, for an entertaining, engaging and interesting look into who are described as “your favourite band’s favourite band”. All part of a documentary that celebrates identity and expression, both creatively and in life. Through a selection of unique songs, plenty of which were clearly ahead of their time, there’s plenty to enjoy about being in the company of Edgar Wright and the Sparks Brothers for this 141 minute ride.

There’s plenty to get through within The Sparks Brothers, and none of it fights for attention or space within this detailed and entertaining dive into a wholly creative band that, 50 years on, maintain their unique mystery.