1 Clever and funny in equal measure

2 Highs and lows… but more lows than highs

3 A waste of time and money

4 Fun for all the family

5 Stranger than fiction

6 Famous faces and a big budget are not enough

7 Money well spent

A Summer at the Sea

It has been quite a while since their last film, but award-winning writers Rasmussen and Keen return to our screens in great form with this animated tale of adventure and romance on the high seas. The plot is not especially original or clever but the action is fast-paced, the humour smart and there is an interesting combination of familiar and new names amongst the cast. Beautifully drawn and animated and with a script full of jokes to appeal to all ages, this is a sure fire summer hit for children aged 6 to 60.

B Gunshot

Even the star-studded cast cannot do much with this very one-paced and predictable thriller. With no twists in the tail and little attempt at characterisation, this is chewing gum for the eyes and little more. If you like watching stars in an endless succession of (very impressive, it should be said) car chases and gunfights then this is the film for you, and there’s no doubt that the names on the poster are enough to guarantee success at the box office. But if you’re looking for clever dialogue and an intelligent plot then better look elsewhere.

C The Bloody Side

When the studio announced plans to produce a new version of this classic film many people wondered why. After all, the original is seen by many as a near-perfect example of the horror genre, still scaring viewers decades after it was first shown. Now that the remake is out, after three years and tens of millions of dollars, viewers who see it can be forgiven for asking the same question because this is a worse film in every possible way. Do yourself a favour, find a cinema showing the original film and spend your money there. You won’t regret it.

D Inspire Me

This heartwarming biopic, based on real events, describes the troubles and triumphs of an autistic young man from a small town in Texas who grew up to be one of the United States’ greatest writers. There are no stars in the film but, far from being a problem, this is actually beneficial as it makes the story the central element. It is a remarkable tale, a real life story more amazing than anything Hollywood could invent and watching his struggles in his early life at home and school and his refusal to give up on his dreams is both disturbing and inspiring, while the film’s ending is one of the most emotional of the year. This is not a film for somebody looking for easy laughs or simple happy endings, but if you want to see an intelligent and emotionally powerful real-life story then this is the film for you.

E Bagmedy

Fans of Ryan Cooper and John Hill will be delighted to see them back together in this chaotic police comedy. The pair play two police officers investigating a series of disappearances but, as usual when these actors are paired together, the plot takes second place to a series of jokes and increasingly absurd situations. The film is rather a mixed bag, however, with a few genuinely hilarious moments but also many remarkably unfunny jokes along the way. Not their best film by a long way and recommended only for the pair’s hottest fans.​