NEWS CHANNEL
GOON (15)
Who’s in it: Seann William Scott, Jay Baruchel, Liev Schreiber, Alison Pill
Synopsis: Heavy-hitting ice hockey comedy
The first thing to say about this film is that Seann William Scott (you know, Stifler out of American Pie) is in it.
When he’s about you can be fairly sure of what you are going to get - goofy comedy, characters with potty mouths, terrible gags and a sense of remorse that you are actually laughing at this stuff.
As well as American Pie Scott has appeared in Road Trip and Dude, Where’s My Car? -all films which are definite guilty pleasures. They are stupid, yes, but they are fun so you might as well unwind and get on board with them.
In Goon, the true story of a man’s journey into minor league ice hockey, Scott plays Doug Glatt who, while being an instantly likeable guy, isn’t the sharpest knife in the drawer.
Glatt does, however, have fists like thunder and he quickly makes a name for himself on the ice as an ‘enforcer’ - a player essentially employed to protect more gifted skaters by knocking out anyone who tries to rough them up.
It’s an exciting ride and Scott expertly combines the two elements of his character, the oafish clumbsiness of a dumb individual and the lethal fisticuffs of the rock hard hockey player.
When Glatt gets called up to the big leagues there is a brutal opponent standing in his way and as in most film a love interest also pitches up.
You’ve probably already guessed what happens but it doesn’t really matter as Goon is so enjoyable.
Glatt is an underdog character who you instantly get behind and the film’s mixture of heartwarming pathos, laugh out loud moments and blood drawing punches makes it an instant winner.
Rating: 4/5
THE IRON LADY (12A)
Who’s in it: Meryl Streep, Anthony Head, Jim Broadbent, Richard E Grant.
Synopsis: A portrait of former PM Margaret Thatcher
ONLY the very best actors should be called upon to play the big names from history, so it’s lucky Meryl Streep was drafted in to play Margaret Thatcher.
Britain’s first female Prime Minister is not a role you want to mess up and Streep does an excellent job.
Love her or hate her, this is an interesting account of a woman who divided opinion dramatically during a fascinating period of British politics.
Many of the pivotal events of her tenure are covered in a series of flashbacks, including the key build up to the Falklands War.
With an able cast playing those around The Iron Lady, this an intriguing piece of film about a very intriguing woman.
Rating: 4/5
• For full cinema listings click here
