Movie Reviews: March 24

Mar 23 2008 Mickey McMonagle

MEET THE SPARTANS (PG) 3/5

This film has been pounded by critics but it seems a bit harsh - either you like this sort of parody movie, or you don't.

I fall into the latter camp but I can still see there's plenty for fans of the genre to lap up.

And of course Carmen Electra is in it.

Sure, the key joke - that the Greek epic 300 on which the movie is based was a bit gay - is done to death. And there are sequences aimed at American audiences which UK viewers just won't get - such as their version of Deal Or No Deal.

If you like this sort of thing I'm sure you'll love it. I'm not so keen but nor am I as repulsed as many reviewers.

HORTON HEARS A WHO! (U) 4/5

Dr Seuss is the author of some of the best children's books ever, so it's surprising there have been so few adaptations of his work.

The Grinch was great, with Jim Carrey stealing the show as the green furry beast, The Cat In The Hat was a bit rubbish and now we come to this new take on the story of an eccentric elephant named Horton.

The live-action approach of those previous two movies has been abandoned in favour of CGI. And coming from the creators of Ice Age, it was a very smart move.

In this charming story, Horton hears cries of help coming from a speck of dust and realises it is populated by an city of tiny creatures named Whos.

Steve Carell voices the mayor of Whoville, who befriends Horton (Jim Carrey) as the elephant tries to convince his friends he has not gone insane.

It's family-friendly fun with a message and the sort of humour you'd expect from the Ice Age lot.

Brilliant.

THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES (PG) 4/5

The latest bash at a new money-spinning fantasy franchise brings this tale of a single parent family made up of twin brothers (both played by Freddie Highmore) and their sister (Sarah Bolger) trying to cope without their dad.

They move to a large, crumbling old house in England owned by long-forgotten relatives and one of the twins stumbles on the book of the title, a guide to magic and its world.

Soon the house is attacked by a nasty old ogre (the brilliantly nasty Nick Nolte) and his evil army. It's a great film and needs to be coming into such a contested genre.

Whether it will make a franchise of note remains to be seen - but it's a great first effort.