Month: January 2023

WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT? (2022)


Arranged marriages, tradition, western values and that age old thing we call love.

A romantic film can sink or swim on the personability and charisma of its lead protagonists so director Shekhar Kapur (Bandit Queen, Elizabeth) is blessed to have an ease of chemistry with Shazad Latif and Lily James who work well together in this com of rom.

When Kaz (Latif) tells his old friend and neighbour, documentary film maker, Zoe (James) that he is getting an arranged marriage she asks to document it for her latest project. 

Shazad Latif and Lily James

I’ll be honest, I didn’t think I’d like this. I’m not a fan of rom coms at the best of times and as I sat in the cinema before the film began I wondered if it would be able to charm me. I knew it wouldn’t happen straight away and I was right. As we know (but could do with being reminded) all art is subjective and the internets is full of personal taste criticism and everyone wants to be heard and be right. There is a LOT of shouting and complaining and it is boring. Over the years writing these reviews I have moved towards not disparaging films as it takes an army to make them and a lot of people put in a lot of work to get them made. They don’t always work but most of the time it is not for lack of caring, there are SO many variables in the journey to making a film from the green light to pre-production to filming to editing and post-production there are many reasons why a film does or doesn’t work.
What works for one may not work for another. So anytime I write about a film I am determined to find the positive in it because otherwise I become a moaner like the rest of them and I’m not doing that.

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Meet the family

This film managed to hook me about half way through when the ‘not a couple’ Kaz and Zoe were in Pakistan for Kaz’s wedding to Maymouna (Sajal Ali) and they come across the actual musician Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, nephew of the famous Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, singing a Sufi song about forbidden love. It is a transcendent moment that lifts the film from the traditional fare to something otherwise. That was the moment that I was charmed and I was in.

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan

This is a film that hits the right emotional notes for its chosen audience. 

Latif and James are great as is the incomparable Emma Thomson who plays James’ mother. There is a lovely scene near the end when Zoe challenges her mother who thinks that Zoe is not complete without a boyfriend. It’s a touching scene with some honest observations.

A sweet, feel good film with some gentle commentary about the perils and pitfalls of love within and without tradition.

#WhatsLoveMovie

1h 48m

M3GAN (2022)

M3gan poster


When I was a child I had a toy bear that when you pulled the string on its back said “I will protect you and keep you safe from harm”. Looking back the tone and timbre of his voice would not be out of place in any of these mechanical horror films of today.
He didn’t have a name, maybe Brown Bear and he didn’t walk or talk but in 2023 we now have M3gan. She can walk, talk and actually protect………by any means.
The timing of this film couldn’t be more apt coming in the shadow of OpenAI’s bursting forth onto the mainstream stage at the end of 2022 into 2023.

It’s a tale as old as tech or as the ChatGPT version of Public Enemy might call it Fear of a Tech Planet. New technology, change, fear, embracing and relying on new technologies and worst case scenarios are rife for dramatisation and what better way to update the Chucky/Annabelle crossed with Ex Machina than for Blumhouse to bring us M3gan (Model 3 Generative Android), the latest in toy manufacturing.

Model 3 Generative ANdroid


When Gemma’s (Allison Williams) sister and brother in law are killed in a freak traffic accident she is left as guardian to their only child, Cady (Violet McGraw) . Gemma works at Funki, a toy company, and is developing a lifesize doll that has artificial intelligence and is designed to look after the child it is assigned to/paired with and provides companionship to said child. M3gan is paired with Cady in its beta state as it is still being worked on and in development, one of its remits is to protect Cady and being equipped to self-improve and adapt to new situations, M3gan starts to act independently. Anything or anyone who appears to be a threat to Cady, M3Gan deals with, the neighbours dog for starters.

M3gan and friends


There is an uncanny valley effect here, the facial design of M3gan seems to be a combination of CGI and makeup and as such looks very creepy, unsettling and unreal. The actress playing M3gan (Amie Donald) does a great physical job as does the voice artist (Jenna Davis).

M3gan


One of the things that make great horror films is the amount of investment in the telling the story as truthfully as possible that the actors can and Allison Williams and Violet McGraw commit fully. Their relationship feels grounded in reality as they face the challenges of their situation.

M3gan dancing


This is a fun ride that is not as high brow as Alex Garland’s brilliant Ex Machina nor as B movie as Tom Holland’s (not Spidey) Child’s Play so it sits somewhere in the entertainment middle and is a welcome addition to the ‘horror’ genre. New Zealander Gerard Johnstone directs this film to box office success and he is currently in talks to direct the sequel M3gan 2.0. If you wanna know how successful the film has been check out the M3gan sketch from Saturday Night Live starring Aubrey Plaza and the viral TikTok dances. M3gan has arrived.

Blumhouse released one of my favourite horrors last year with The Black Phone and the first ‘horror film’ I have seen in 2023 is also one of theirs, may they all be as fun as this one.

See it….if you dare.

“I’ll protect you and keep you safe from harm.”