This week's new films: Aug 31

Aug 31 2008 Mickey McMonagle

STEPBROTHERS (15) 2/5

I really wanted to like this film. John C. Reilly is one of my favourite actors and I hoped his role as a foil for gibbering loon Will Ferrell would be enjoyable.

At times it comes close but overall this is just another film full of Ferrell doing the same old over-the-top, not at all funny things.

Brennan (Ferrell) and Dale (Reilly) are 39 and 40-year-old losers who refuse to work, living with and sponging off their single parents.

When Brennan's mum marries Dale's dad, they are forced to live together and deal with no longer being spoiled only children.

The premise is great and there are funny moments along the way, such as the bunk beds scene.

If you're a Ferrell fan, you will love it and quote lines a la Anchorman but I just don't get it.

THE WACKNESS (15) 3/5

Sir Ben Kingsley should be all the reason you need to see this film. He is the exact opposite of Will Ferrell.

Kingsley is one of the most talented actors on the planet, bringing to life any character he plays in an utterly believable way, stealing every scene he is in.

He is on his usual stunning form as therapist Dr Squires, counselling a young, small-time drug dealer (Josh Peck) in New York in 1994.

He reckons the boy just needs to get a girl but the patient secretly has his eye on the doctor's stepdaughter Stephanie (Olivia Thirlby). Squires has his own problems, such as his cold wife Famke Janssen, and it is in his character the film's real appeal lies. Seeing Kingsley lapping up hip hop and getting stoned is a real treat.

BABYLON A.D.(12A) 2/5

Ah, Vin Diesel. Where did it all go wrong? It seemed so promising for the man once hailed the future of action movies - until he ended up doing sappy comedies like The Pacifier with kids.

Here we at last have him back where he belongs,in a mindless,futuristic action thriller.

The film is not up to much at all but it's great to see Diesel back in an action role. Hopefully this will reinvent him again and lead him to better films.

He plays mercenary Toorop, hired to take a girl from Russia to America through a world of violence and nastiness.

That's about your lot as far as a plot goes. Still, it's good to see Vin waving guns again rather than nappies.