Troy_Campbell

Set in the near future, this slow-burning sci-fi tale follows emotionless astronaut Roy McBride (Brad Pitt) as he embarks on a voyage across the solar system in search of his missing father who may be at the centre of Earth-threatening power surges. Beginning with an extraordinary outer space sequence showing off the film's impressive visual effects, as well as establishing its matter-of-fact approach to portraying the dangers of space-work, it's a bar that proves too high for the remainder of the movie to match. The first half plays like a thriller, building suspense and an enigmatic tone through dream-like visual storytelling and drip-fed information; the second half swerving away from the mystery in favour of deeper psychological drama. It's an admirable change of direction but one that ultimately disappoints, as intriguing first act questions aren't given satisfying answers and the ethereal disposition throughout is undercut by a simplistic and clichéd finale. It looks amazing without doubt, director James Gray combining beautiful CGI vistas with faded transitions, overlapping images and spliced frames of chameleonic shots to create an uneasiness that subtly hints at tragedy. Pitt is an engrossing presence as always, his calm demeanour and measured dialogue not allowing easy access to what is going on in his mind (or heart); however, his narration is occasionally too on the nose. Not as viscerally entertaining as Gravity, as provocatively convention-bending as Arrival or as intellectually stimulating as Interstellar, Ad Astra is a stunningly photographed and initially interesting intergalactic fable that suffers from a final act that fails to stick the landing.

Produced by Seth Rogen's band of merry men, this vulgar comedy is basically Superbad but with a trio of pre-pubescent boys instead of high schoolers. It's cheap, crude and not particularly clever, but also, at times, bloody hilarious. There's a simple formula for laughs here: three best friends who have just started Middle School (Year 6) embark on a series of adventures thinking they're ready for all the important adult stuff in life like kissing, sipping beer and swearing like convicted felons. Adopting a quantity-over-quality approach to humour, the gags come thick and fast. Inadvertent operation of sex toys, a frat house brawl, an inappropriate Rock of Ages concert, a too-soon experience with porn - everything is thrown at the screen in pursuit of a laugh. Although I wouldn't go as far to say the script is intelligent or original, there are some wittier, more subtle moments of amusement that rely on genuine comedic timing (misused vocab, social unacceptable behaviour) from the youthful leads, and they largely pull it off. Child actors are often hit or miss, skirting a fine line between endearingly precocious and unbearably irritating; however, the headlining trio here land on the right side of childish. They think they know it all of course but are still most definitely "social piranhas." Make no mistake, the creators of Good Boys employ a simple and crass method to generate comedy. They succeeded.