TheRetroCritic

In many ways, Leprechaun 2 is a superior sequel. Then again, it is a sequel to  Leprechaun  so how good could it possibly be? Kinda like how  Evil Dead 2 is a sequel to Evil Dead , this Leprechaun is really more of a remake or a reimagining of the first film with only Warwick Davis' evil fantastical critter in common: the plot doesn't continue from the first instalment and it seems like this time there is some kind of budget involved despite the (unsurprising) absence of Jennifer Aniston. Whereas the first film took place in and around some old house, this time we actually have a story with characters you actually sort-of care about (not Shevonne Durkin, she's rubbish) and *gasp* numerous locations! Now the Leprechaun is looking for a bride to... cover in gold and impregnate (as you do) but he can only do that with a descendant of the daughter of a past slave of his and that'll only work if she sneezes three times and no-one says "God bless you".

After the cop out that was... Cop Out , it's Adam McKay's turn to give us his take on the old buddy pictures of the 80s. On paper, The Other Guys should have been glorious but, as funny as it is throughout, there is still something missing. Perhaps it prioritizes jokes rather than focus on the cop genre it's riffing off a bit too much, perhaps the shaky-cam and modern feel of the film takes away some of the nostalgia we have come to expect from those classic cop movies. Having said that, Will Ferrell is always fun and Mark Wahlberg is great proving once again that comedy really is his calling as opposed to drama, which he can barely do (as his previous 3 efforts have conclusively proven). The supporting cast is also spot on with Michael Keaton's TLC quoting captain almost stealing the show. Alas the film tires in the last half hour and the whole thing becomes very hit and miss. The jokes wear thin and you end up missing the film's first half. Still, The Other

I have to say after all this talk of Hitchcock this and Hitchcock that I was expecting more than a "guy-in-a-box" concept movie. To give the film credit, for a film set in a coffin it does a good job keeping you entertained throughout. Loved the opening titles...and that's all I can say really. Overall Buried was pretty...pedestrian in its writing, acting and overall storytelling. Didn't think Ryan Reynolds was particularly convincing and a lot of his panting, screaming and heavy breathing felt forced and strangely comical at times. I also felt that the whole Irak setting and terrorist plot was obvious, clumsy and clichéd. Sure the film is a metaphor of the war etc. but it really didn't need to be. It should have just been about a guy in a box, with no recollection of how he got in, trying to call for help only to, at the end, get out and find that he's somewhere he never expected. Like a good episode of the Twilight Zone ! The bad guy on the phone felt s