pauldudleylewis-68458 Reviews

The Gray Man (2022)

Lacking originality

[1/10 · 9 January 2023]

The Gray Man would like to be Mission Impossible but the numerous comic book action sequences lack any originality and the humour is laboured. Tom Cruise has nothing to fear from Ryan Gosling whose wooden performance is the worst aspect of a very bad film. In a film that generally keeps it light, there is an unnecessarily graphic torture scene, and unpleasant scenes of the physical abuse of children. The highly unsatisfying ending gives the impression the producers, with considerable hubris, are hoping for a sequel. I hope that Netflix exercise some quality control and ensure this over long, over wrought mishap of a movie is never repeated.

Minx (2022–2023)

Comedy drama with strong characters and plot

[8/10 · 31 October 2022]

Sharply drawn and acted characters with plenty of conflict make this an exceptional comedy drama. Although centred on a 1970s porn publisher, the shocking scenes are not the exposed breasts and penises, they're the ones showing the way the women are treated. When a woman launches a feminist magazine that includes naked men, she is patronised and verbally attacked by both men and women. The story of how she comes to terms with sexism and with being in the porn industry is fascinating. The characters are well rounded and involving from the female lead who is initially naive both sexually and socially but learns to fight back to the male publisher who is sympathetic to what she is trying to do but can't shake off his macho sexism. The supporting characters too are believable and surprising. It all adds up to a hilarious and unpredictable look at a changing time for women, as well as offering a sympathetic view of the sex industry at that time. The nudity is always seen in a work context so is never titillating or shocking, even the erect penis (a reasonably convincing prosthetic).

Finding You (2020)

Predictable but charming

[6/10 · 31 July 2021]

There are no surprises in this story of a grieving young American woman on a visit to Ireland and a Hollywood star who fall in love and find their true selves. Rose Reid and Jedidiah Goodacre make a charming couple and the beautiful Irish countryside and medieval town of Carlingford more than make up for the plot's shortcomings.

Baby Done (2020)

A charming comedy about parents-to-be

[8/10 · 24 January 2021]

A charming comedy about a couple coming to terms with pregnancy. It's in the tradition of a screwball comedy that would have starred Katharine Hepburn and Car Grant. Rose Matafeo is excellent with a droll delivery and emotional depth as the wild tree-climbing mother-to-be worried that a child will stunt her adventurous lifestyle. Matthew Lewis shows great leading man quality as the more responsible and gauche father. There's sharp dialogue and many funny scenes in Sophie Henderson's screenplay including an attempt to slide under a toilet door and an awkward threesome. Some of the more slapstick comedy misses the mark because it belongs to a more over-the-top Judd Apatow script but on the whole this is a clever likeable movie.