The Game Plan; Charity screening - family film review

FATHER FIGURE: Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson as Joe Kingman and Madison Pettis as Peyton in a scene from 'The Game Plan'.
Image: Ron Philips/Disney Enterprises.


The charity preview screening of 'The Game Plan' is to support the Starlight Children's Foundation, with all proceeds used to brighten the lives of seriously ill children.

Musclehead Turns Marshmallow by Linh

Former wrestling champion Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson shows he can be soft as a marshmallow on the inside while maintaining his tough exterior with his latest film 'The Game Plan'.

In typical Disney style, 'The Game Plan' consists of the usual formula of children, animals, frazzled adults, and a lesson or two to be learned. There's even American Football, ballet plus shameless product placement and advertising as part of the script.

Dwayne Johnson stars as the self-absorbed, popular and charming quarterback for the Boston Rebels, Joe Kingman, whose well-structured life is thrown off balance when he meets the eight year old daughter he never knew he had. His daughter, Peyton, informs him that her mother is unreachable as she's in Sudan saving lives, so it's his responsibility to care for his daughter. Joe Kingman relunctantly agrees, as he couldn't resist the big, brown innocent eyes of his little girl. Yet she is not as sweet and innocent as he thinks.

Dwayne Johnson is unexpectedly very funny and entertaining to watch as the bachelor learning to be a father. Dwayne Johnson does very well in playing a role against type, a huge change from his other heroic tough guy roles. Joe Kingman is a devoted Elvis Presley fan and fills his life with Elvis memorabilia and actions, which gives Dwayne Johnson the opportunity to sing a stirring rendition of Are You Lonesome Tonight while playing his Elvis Presley labelled guitar.

Madison Pettis is a natural talent as the observant and patient Peyton who sees her father as a challenge but accepts his character flaws with a mature attitude compared to Joe Kingman's childishness and "It's all about me, it's mine" personality. Madison Pettis delivers a very believable performance as the young girl searching for a father figure in Joe Kingman and her ballet scenes with Joe are inspiring.

Kyra Sedgwick is delightfully pushy yet well-meaning as Stella Peck, Joe's very demanding and money-hungry agent whose attempts to secure lucrative sponsorship deals for Joe Kingman are placed in doubt as Joe commits to his Daddy duties. Kyra Sedgwick plays it too straight-faced and serious as she tries to babysit Peyton, but ends up hiring a nanny.

Roselyn Sanchez plays Peyton's ballet teacher, Monique Vasquez whose professionalism and skills at ballet equal Joe Kingman's football playing abilities. Yet the two clash on their first meeting, until she recruits Joe as an integral part of her ballet production. Roselyn Sanchez is dainty and glamourous in her ballet attire, who also provides the strong-willed female mentor Peyton seeks, as a teacher and friend.

'The Game Plan' is a reminder of the importance of family and learning to balance work with family commitments. A thoroughly enjoyable and satisfying two hours of family comedy, much better than other similar Disney films.

The Clockwork Forest; theatre review

FAMILY FUN: Paul Blackwell as Cuthbert and Cameron Goodall as Morton in scene from The Clockwork Forest.
Image: Windmill Performing Arts


Forest of Fun by Linh

Windmill Performing Arts and Brink Productions have joined creative forces to bring Doug MacLeod's family friendly production The Clockwork Forest to the Dunstan Playhouse.

The story tells of young Morton whose only friends, his wind up animal toys Dog, Cat, Hen and Goat, are blown away during a fierce storm which destroys his house. Morton sets on a journey through the forest to find his friends and discovers more to life than clockwork toy animals. The Clockwork Forest is a play dealing with issues of friendship, love, loss, trust and revenge, and is thoroughly entertaining.

Adelaide actor Cameron Goodall plays the plucky and determined Morton with convincing delivery of lines and childlike agility as he moves through the well-designed props representing a labyrinth of trees in search of his clockwork toys alongside Cuthbert. Cameron Goodall is engaging and likeable playing a child, and at times shows intellectual maturity in contrast to Cuthbert's naivete.

With a career as diverse as the characters he has played, Paul Blackwell is brilliantly hilarious as the amnesiac Cuthbert, who is wandering the forest searching for his own identity and befriending Morton. Paul Blackwell enthralls with his deft hand at comedy, as Cuthbert provides most of the laughs accentuating the humour in the script.

Drama teacher, singer and actor Jacqueline Cook gives a fine performance as Morton's not-so-secret admirer, whose house is also destroyed in the wild storm. Jacqueline Cook's portrayal of the feisty and cunning young Hannah, is a delight to watch, as she provides an interesting distraction for Morton when his eyes stray from his beloved animal toys towards her direction.

The allrounder and multi-talented Kate Box takes on two contrasting yet equally beguiling main characters, as well as a few other minor roles amongst the fantastic ensemble. As the slightly scary but very sexy Spider, Mara, Kate Box wraps the characters and the audience up in her charms while she spins out vengeful words against families. Mara's pet hate is family or anything family related, since her own sisters banished her into the dark and lonely forest due to her misdeeds.
Kate Box gives plenty of quirkiness and neurotic fussiness in her role as Felicia, the artist, whose artistic goal in life is to make everything ugly look beautiful.

Adding some mystery and spookiness to the play, Rory Walker is creepy yet mesmeric as Loki, the intriguing storyteller who travels in a boat along the forest fringes, taking people across the river.

Composer and multi-instrumentalist Stuart Day performs live onstage with his multitude of 'sound tools' including drumsticks, hurdy gurdy and megaphone. Stuart Day brings about the wonders and foreboding sense of danger to the forest as he creates the soundtrack to The Clockwork Forest right before our eyes and ears.

Melbourne writer Doug Macleod is known for his work displaying sharp wit and quirky humour with credits including the television comedy programme Kath And Kim. All which are evident in the beautifully crafted and tightly trimmed script for The Clockwork Forest that appeals to audiences of all ages.

Director Chris Drummond has seamlessly woven sounds, actions, lighting and great performers together for a satisfying journey through a fictional forest.

Death At A Funeral; comedy film review

PLOTTING: Rupert Graves as Robert and Matthew MacFadyen as Daniel in a scene from 'Death At A Funeral'.
Image: www.filmspot.com/movie/365073/death-at-a-funeral



Dead Set Funny by Linh

Director Frank Oz has brought together the best from the British talent field to create a film of mayhem and hilarious mishaps at a funeral, following Murphy's Law. If anything can go wrong, it will.

The plot follows the son of the deceased patriarch, Daniel, who must keep the funeral arrangements under control, while hiding a terribly embarrassing secret about his father, from family and friends.

Matthew MacFadyen is the aspiring writer Daniel, who has promised his wife, Jane, they'll be moving out of his Mother's house and into their own flat. Matthew MacFadyen is enjoyable to watch as Daniel, from being cool as a cucumber in front of his family and relatives, to a dithering and indecisive accomplice with his brother, as they plot to fight a blackmail attempt.

Rupert Graves plays Robert, Daniel's brother, a smooth talking, best selling author living in New York. Robert's selfishness leads to his brother Daniel always taking responsibility of family affairs while he gallivants across Europe. Rupert Graves gives Robert the charm and wit of a self absorbed writer and is full of ideas to solve the problem of the "accidental death".

Daisy Donovan gives a strong performance as Daniel's cousin Martha, who arrives with her future husband, Simon, hoping to make a good impression on her disapproving father, Victor. Daisy Donovan contributes to the laughs as her character chases her drug-induced fiance throughout the film.

Alan Tudyk stars as Martha's fiance Simon, who is responsible for the majority of the laughs, after his fiancee unknowingly gives him hallucinogens instead of valium to calm his nerves. Alan Tudyk is convincing as a sensible and hardworking lawyer who ends up au naturale on the rooftop.

Peter Dinklage is the mysterious man at the funeral, Peter, who has a secret he plans to reveal unless he is paid his share of the money from the deceased's family.
Peter Dinklage provides more laughs as his character attempts to blackmail the brothers, Daniel and Robert, but finds himself lying inside an occupied coffin.

Other brilliant performances include Andy Nyman as Daniel's hypochondriac friend, Howard who helps to conceal the secret; Peter Vaughan as the impatient and cantankerous Uncle Alfie who's convinced something's going on at the funeral and Kris Marshall as Martha's brother Troy, who is indirectly responsible for the hallucinogens creating chaos for Martha and Simon.

From start to finish, 'Death At A Funeral' has plenty of laugh out loud moments, and it intensifies when the drugs kick in. Stay around for the end credits where bloopers of the main cast feature the actors having a few laughs of their own.

Hairspray; musical and sing along film review

The ensemble cast of the musical film 'Hairspray'.
Image: www.myspace.com/hairspray

BIG IS BEAUTIFUL: John Travolta as Edna Turnblad and Nikki Blonsky as Tracy Turnblad in a scene from 'Hairspray'. Photo:www.movies.aol.com/movie/hairspray-2007


Dancing Teen Queen by Linh

'Hairspray' is an adaptation of the hit Broadway musical, which in turn is based on the original John Waters' 1988 film 'Hairspray'.
The story tells of a teenager named Tracy Turnblad who, despite her big hair and big build, achieves her dream of dancing on 'The Corny Collins Show' and succeeds in bringing racial integration to television.

Director Adam Shankman and producers have made wise decisions for the musical film, including losing the campiness which is evident in the Broadway stage version. Songs have been dropped and others added to flow with the film's character development and storylines.

Set in Baltimore during the 1960s, although the majority of the scenes were filmed in Toronto as well as Baltimore, the film recaptures the moment in time when racial segregation was the norm yet acceptance of black Americans into the community was growing.

The characters retain their sparkle and freshness with a strong ensemble cast combining experience with youth and versatility. With sing along sessions screening in cinemas, making 'Hairspray' more enjoyable, it may distract from the action on screen.

Newcomer Nikki Blonsky stars as the big haired and big hearted dance sensation Tracy Turnblad, managing to steal every scene with her wide-eyed innocence and luminous smile. Nikki has excellent diction and vocal projection, with exceptional singing throughout. She gives a dreamy quality to I Can Hear The Bells and exudes enthusiasm in Good Morning Baltimore. Nikki may be in her debut film role, yet she feels and looks comfortable onscreen as she performs alongside seasoned actors including John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer and Christopher Walken.

Star of musical films 'Grease' and 'Saturday Night Fever', John Travolta wears a fat suit to play the role of Tracy's Mum, Edna Turnblad, whose introverted nature keeps her inside the house for over a decade, until Tracy gently coaxes her to head outdoors. John Travolta is uncannily convincing as a woman who loves her food as much as her family. His singing and dancing abilities are as energetic and smooth as his past performances in musicals. He is brilliant in the duet with Tracy in Welcome To The 60s, manages to tango in the moonlight with Christopher Walken in (You're) Timeless To Me and explodes on screen in a fusion of dance, song and colour in the cast anthem You Can't Stop The Beat.

Following a lengthy absence away from the silver screen, Michelle Pfeiffer returns as glamourous vixen Velma Von Tussle, the Station Manager of WYZT, where 'The Corny Collins Show' is filmed. Michelle Pfeiffer gives a husky voiced but alluring performance with (The Legend Of) Miss Baltimore Crabs. She gives a slightly caricatured performance in her Stage Mother antics of pushing her daughter, Amber, into the spotlight, resulting in her own downfall. Michelle Pfeiffer creates a wonderfully nasty character whose bigoted ways provides contrast to the other characters' attempts to bring Negros "into the mix".

Familiar to numerous fans of 'High School Musical' as Troy Bolton, Zac Efron plays the aspiring dancer and singer Link Larkin, the love interest for Tracy. Extremely high on cuteness factor but low on personality, Link needs a character boost from Zac Efron but it comes too late (near the end) in the film.

Other cast members with noteworthy performances include versatile actor Christopher Walken as Wilbur Turnblad, Tracy's caring and comedic father; Amanda Bynes plays Tracy's lollipop-sucking best friend Penny Pingleton who comes out of her shell when she falls in love with Seaweed; Allison Janney is superb as Penny's ultra-religious and overbearing mother Prudy Pingleton and Queen Latifah is divine yet defiant as 'Motormouth' Maybelle Stubbs whose line "brace yourselves for a whole lotta ugly coming at you from a never ending parade of stupid" sums up the attitudes of many white Americans on racial integration during 1960s Baltimore.

'Hairspray' the musical film is currently screening in selected cinemas, with the sing along sessions exclusive to Palace Nova Cinemas.



Nikki Blonsky and Zac Efron appeared on 'Rove' during their visit to promote 'Hairspray'. Source: YouTube.com/GivesYouWings.