Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm (15)
Directed by Jason Woliner
★★★

MORE than just a film in its own right, Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm also serves as the explanation for a series of bizarre comedic stunts over the course of this year, all now revealed to have been performed by Sacha Baron Cohen for the purposes of this comedy sequel.

Whether or not the return of Kazakhstani reporter Borat Sagdiyhev for another American adventure is worth this much effort however perhaps merits a resounding “meh.”

Tasked with gifting his own daughter to Michael Pence as a national peace offering, the inevitable sequel to the smash 2006 hit has been filmed and set seemingly entirely through the course of the Covid-19 pandemic.

It also sports a noticeable increase in the Borat v feminism saga by way of his daughter, played by “unknown” Irina Novak.

What falls flat with all this is that Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm is a vastly less concise or intelligent a film as Cohen has made in some time.

His political shots feel more muted and the emphasis on plot over his more consistently effective theatrics weakens this offering.

Even so, it can’t be labelled a mere disappointment, delivering as it does what might be the darkest prank of Cohen’s entire career to date and ensuring that when it does get you laughing, it will at least do so heartily.

Fans will adore it, no doubt. But to the more discerning eye, Borat’s return is decidedly something of a mixed bag.

VAN CONNOR

The Secret Garden (PG)
Directed by Marc Munden
★★★

THIS latest film adaptation — and there have been many — of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s much-loved novel is aimed at weaving its magic on a new generation of youngsters.

Set in 1947, instead of 1911 in India on the eve of partition, it has 10-year-old orphan Mary Lennox (an impressive Dixie Egerickx) sent to England to escape the turmoil to live with her troubled uncle Archibald Craven (Colin Firth, wasted) on his country estate in the Yorkshire moors.

There she befriends her bedridden cousin Colin (Edan Hayhurst) and meets local lad Dickon (Amir Wilson).

Although sticking to the spirit of the book, the story is seen through the eyes of the obnoxious, entitled and emotionally neglected Mary who veers between her colourful fantasy world and reality.

But it is her discovery of a wondrous heightened secret garden, a total visual delight, which slowly helps her and her cousin to start a process of healing.

The film comes alive whenever the three youngsters are on screen, especially in the glorious garden which responds to their every emotion.

While they provide the heart of the drama, Firth and Julie Walters, as the housekeeper, bring the gravitas.

A complex and magical tale which should appeal to young and old alike.

In cinemas and Sky Cinema on October 23.

MARIA DUARTE

Summer of ’85 (15)
Directed by Francois Ozon
★★★★

WITH this deliriously fun and retro-nostalgic teen-romance tale, dressed up and captured with the salacious Riviera camp of late-1980s French detective dramas, Francois Ozon is back.

Part homage, part satirical exploitation pic, Summer of ’85 sees Ozon’s reverent affection for the coming-of-age dramas of yesteryear brought to vivid fruition through period-specific staging, camerawork and even editing techniques of the day.

The luscious neon tones are realised gloriously by cinematographer Hichame Alaouie.

Partly based on Aidan Chambers’s novel Dance on my Grave, Ozon’s story follows Felix Lefebvre’s coastal teen loner Alexis as he explores love for the first time with “future corpse” and fellow boater David.

With a bevy of fun “they don’t make ’em like this any more” story beats and a playful sensibility, the film boasts a tenderness and a vulnerability that packs genuine substance into what could have otherwise coasted in with a pass on its throwback creds alone.

VC

Honest Thief (15)
Directed by Mark Williams
★★★

LIAM NEESON returns to his action-hero mode as a notorious bank robber who decides after years to finally turn himself in to the authorities for the love of a woman.

Unfortunately, he gets caught in the crosshairs of two crooked and ruthless FBI agents, played by Jai Courtney and Anthony Ramos, who double-cross him.

It sounds totally ridiculous, but Neeson, with his soulful eyes and rugged demeanour, manages to sell this tense action crime drama, written and directed by Mark Williams, as only he can. Frankly, though, it’s a role that he can do in his sleep.

There are car chases, shoot-outs and explosions galore but at its core it is a film about second chances and redemption.

Kate Walsh is Neeson’s love interest — the woman who, unbeknown to her, has made the mysterious protagonist want to go straight.

Very silly but surprisingly engaging.

MD

Pixie (15)
Directed by Barnaby Thompson
★★

BURIED beneath its frazzled energy and madcap editing, there’s a sizeable disconnect to be found in Irish crime-thriller Pixie.

It’s a rift between its writer, director and lead crafting themselves a sort of Celtic Elmore-Leonard riff and an entire production staffed by those with aspirations of a Martin McDonagh romp.

The resulting clash leaves this would-be Irish spaghetti Western a bit… well, tangled up in itself.

Ready Player One’s Olivia Cooke takes on the brunt of Pixie’s shortcomings in a role the film positions as some kind of underworld Tamara Drewe-inspired Manic Pixie Dream Girl.

The story of a vengeful young woman’s scheming against and stoking the infighting of her local crime world’s unsettled scores list, Pixie has director Barnaby Thompson fighting valiantly to keep the energy up enough to smooth over the bumps.

But with his supporting cast playing for laughs in a vastly different vehicle, it’s not that the film doesn’t move — it’s fuelled by undeniable zeal — it’s that you won’t care for the ride at all.

VC