From the Director of The Full Monty and the Writer of Philomena comes THE PENGUIN LESSONS, a delightful story with wit and warmth.

Experience one Englishman’s personal and political awakening after he adopts a penguin during a cataclysmic period in Argentine history.

Opens 17 April at Dendy Cinemas Coorparoo and Dendy Cinemas Portside.

The Penguine Lessons – Seniors Morning Tea Preview
Thursday 10 April – 10am arrival for 10.30am screening
Dendy Cinemas Coorparoo and Dendy Cinemas Portside
www.dendy.com.au/

While struggling with his dual identity, Arthur not only stumbles upon true love, but also finds the music that’s always been inside him.

Starring Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, Zazie Beetz, Steve Coogan, Harry Lawtey, Leigh Gill, Ken Leung, Jacob Lofland, Bill Smitrovich, Sharon Washington, Joker: Folie À Deux is coming to cinemas October 3!
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Then when his ex-schoolmate and now sworn enemy Maxime Le Mal (Will Ferrell) and his girlfriend Valentina (Sofía Vergara) escape from incarceration and vow lethal revenge, it turns Gru and his family’s life upside down. They are soon whisked off into witness protection and relocated to a posh neighbourhood where they do anything but fit in. Add to this the sycophantic next-door neighbour Poppy Prescott (Joey King) who forces Gru back into the life.

With a more mature storyline for the characters to indulge in, the film relies on those irrepressible Minions to provide most of the humour and they do it well. Those in yellow have a series of running gags that show juvenile pranks are always good for a laugh or two and they are as cute as ever. There is one gag about being trapped in a snack vending machine that is consistent in the laugh-generating stakes.

Riffs on the class system and the recidivist nature of criminals add a bit of gravitas to the story but things are mostly kept light and frothy. After three other successful chapters in the franchise, the formula has proven to be effective and remains in place for number four. There are no real surprises in store for the audience, which would have been nice but the entertainment factor remains high as does its relevance for the enjoyment of all ages.
Rob Hudson
www.facebook.com/UniversalPicturesAU/

Following the 2022 blockbuster phenomenon of Illumination’s Minions: The Rise of Gru, which earned almost $1 billion worldwide, the biggest global animated franchise in history now begins a new chapter as Gru (Oscar® nominee Steve Carell) and Lucy (Oscar® nominee Kristen Wiig) and their girls —Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), Edith (Dana Gaier) and Agnes (Madison Polan)—welcome a new member to the Gru family, Gru Jr., who is intent on tormenting his dad.

Gru faces a new nemesis in Maxime Le Mal (Emmy winner Will Ferrell) and his femme fatale girlfriend Valentina (Emmy nominee Sofia Vergara), and the family is forced to go on the run.

The film features fresh new characters voiced by Joey King (Bullet Train), Emmy winner Stephen Colbert (The Late Show with Stephen Colbert) and Chloe Fineman (Saturday Night Live). Pierre Coffin returns as the iconic voice of the Minions and Oscar® nominee Steve Coogan returns as Silas Ramsbottom.

Packed with non-stop action and filled with Illumination’s signature subversive humor, Despicable Me 4 is directed by a co-creator of the Minions, Oscar® nominee Chris Renaud (Despicable Me, The Secret Life of Pets), and is produced by Illumination’s visionary founder and CEO Chris Meledandri and by Brett Hoffman (executive producer, The Super Mario Bros. Movie and Minions: The Rise of Gru). The film is co-directed by Patrick Delage (animation director Sing 2 and The Secret Life of Pets 2), and the screenplay is by the Emmy winning creator of White Lotus, Mike White, and the veteran writer of every Despicable Me film, Ken Daurio.
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Following the 2022 blockbuster phenomenon of Illumination’s Minions: The Rise of Gru, which earned almost $1 billion worldwide, the biggest global animated franchise in history now begins a new chapter as Gru (Oscar® nominee Steve Carell) and Lucy (Oscar® nominee Kristen Wiig) and their girls —Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), Edith (Dana Gaier) and Agnes (Madison Polan)—welcome a new member to the Gru family, Gru Jr., who is intent on tormenting his dad.

Gru faces a new nemesis in Maxime Le Mal (Emmy winner Will Ferrell) and his femme fatale girlfriend Valentina (Emmy nominee Sofia Vergara), and the family is forced to go on the run.

The film features fresh new characters voiced by Joey King (Bullet Train), Emmy winner Stephen Colbert (The Late Show with Stephen Colbert) and Chloe Fineman (Saturday Night Live). Pierre Coffin returns as the iconic voice of the Minions and Oscar® nominee Steve Coogan returns as Silas Ramsbottom.

Packed with non-stop action and filled with Illumination’s signature subversive humor, Despicable Me 4 is directed by a co-creator of the Minions, Oscar® nominee Chris Renaud (Despicable Me, The Secret Life of Pets), and is produced by Illumination’s visionary founder and CEO Chris Meledandri and by Brett Hoffman (executive producer, The Super Mario Bros. Movie and Minions: The Rise of Gru). The film is co-directed by Patrick Delage (animation director Sing 2 and The Secret Life of Pets 2), and the screenplay is by the Emmy winning creator of White Lotus, Mike White, and the veteran writer of every Despicable Me film, Ken Daurio.
www.facebook.com/UniversalPicturesAU/

Its timeline starts from the beginning of time and quickly accelerates to the swinging sixties and as such makes for some very funny history lessons. It also rewards those looking for popular culture references with a wide range of improbable moments. The soundtrack is also fantastically period appropriate and the filmmakers spared no expense in securing the original songs by the original artists. The licensing fees must have been through the roof.

The core of the action eventually settles in London and takes full advantage of the Royal family, British culture and the liberal and conservative attitudes of the time. The set design is colourful in the way a lollie shop is colourful and focusing the film on just the trio of minions, Kevin, Stuart, and Bob makes their individual characters stand out.

Getting the mix of adult and children friendly humour just right is never easy and in this regard Minions excels. This is a film that the whole family can enjoy together and one that will lead to very few embarrassing questions for the parental units on the drive home.

Rob Hudson
www.facebook.com/UniversalPicturesAU

Greed tells the story of self-made British billionaire Sir Richard McCreadie (Steve Coogan), whose retail empire is in crisis. For 30 years he has ruled the world of retail fashion – bringing the high street to the catwalk and the catwalk to the high street – but after a damaging public inquiry, his image is tarnished.

To save his reputation, he decides to bounce back with a highly publicised and extravagant party celebrating his 60th birthday on the Greek island of Mykonos. A satire on the grotesque inequality of wealth in the fashion industry, the film sees McCreadie’s rise and fall through the eyes of his biographer, Nick (David Mitchell).
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This bittersweet tale is set in the latter part of their careers as they tour England after World War II. It shows two men that were creative partners for most of their adult lives but never really communicated in words or deeds their true feelings for each other.

Steve Coogan as Stan Laurel and John C. Reilly as Oliver Hardy are absolutely convincing in their roles. They are outstanding in showing the physical comedy side of their art with its strict timing and understatement and the human pathos of a generation that found great difficulty in communicating emotions.

This film connects with its audience with superlative performances and a touching story of two men sharing their true feelings before it’s too late. Even if you have no real knowledge of who Laurel & Hardy are, the cinematic experience is still meaningful and affecting.

Rob Hudson
www.StanAndOllie.com.au

Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly star as Laurel and Hardy, the world’s most famous comedy duo, attempt to reignite their film careers as they embark on what becomes their swan song – a gruelling theatre tour of post-war Britain.

Directed by Jon S. Baird (Filth) and starring Steve Coogan (Philomena), John C. Reilly (Chicago), Danny Huston (American Horror Story), Shirley Henderson (Happy Valley) and Nina Arianda (Florence Foster Jenkins)

NOMINATED FOR 1 GOLDEN GLOBE:
Best Actor, Motion Picture Musical or Comedy (John C. Reilly)

Stan and Ollie is in Australian cinemas February 21, 2019!
www.StanAndOllie.com.au

To enter this great competition just fill out the entry form below.

Competition will be drawn 18 February 2019, winners will be notified by mail.

If you follow these simple instructions to the letter, then by halfway through the film you will be so drunk, the second half will produce some good time laughs. Because make no mistake, this is one hot mess of a movie. The sets are appealing as are the costumes and the signage and newspaper headlines shown throughout are very funny. The parts are all there.

Casting wise, it also looks good as both Will Ferrell as Sherlock Holmes and John C. Reilly as Doctor Watson have a decent track record together. They have both been in some funny films together. Casting Ralph Fiennes as the mysterious criminal mastermind Moriarty also looks promising.

Having said all that however, the film wildly misses the target and very few of the comic ideas hit home. The film is oddly efficient in how often the humour goes astray but as the basis for one of the world’s most intoxicating drinking games, it is spectacular.

Rob Hudson
www.facebook.com/HolmesAndWatsonMovie