The Edge Of Seventeen
The good thing about films about growing up is that they’re able to be enjoyed by just about any age – either you’ve grown up and remember it, or you’re actively in the process of growing up. All that’s left are the people too young to watch them. That’s why this funny and sweet movie works on so many levels – it’s very easy to sympathise with and relate to nearly all the main characters.
Hailee Steinfeld (Pitch Perfect 2) plays Nadine, a slightly nerdy student who has to navigate the sometimes horrendous obstacle course that is high school. She’s backed up by an awesome supporting cast consisting of young up-and-comers like Haley Lu Richardson and Blake Jenner, as well as reliable veterans like Woody Harrelson and Kyra Sedgwick.
The stand-out, however, is easily Hayden Szeto, who gives possibly the most hilarious depiction of awkwardness of the last decade – expect big things from him. As a whole, the film is engaging, sympathetic and at certain points, really funny – it’s just a very nice time at the pictures, and that’s sometimes exactly what’s needed in life. In cinemas November 30
I Am Bolt
Usain Bolt is a bona fide legend, which is most likely why they went for this title when making a documentary about him. Of course, this is not a story that is unknown to many people, so there aren’t any surprises – as such, tension is almost non-existent. However, there’s a wealth of juicy behind the scenes footage of the charismatic people person, which nicely fills out the personality behind the million-dollar legs. It also delves into his past to discover where this seemingly superhuman bloke came from (it wasn’t from space, it turns out), along the way talking to friends, family members and celebrity admirers. This is no hard-hitting, investigative documentary, but the chance to spend 100 minutes with such a charming athlete is one to jump at, sharpish. In cinemas November 28
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Jason Bourne
This is textbook Bourne, and that’s just fine. Bourne still doesn’t really know who he is, and when a load of new info about his past is uncovered, he furrows his deadly brow even more than before. There’s a handful of decent tension, a slightly complicated story that contains a few computerific details which are thankfully easy to bypass, and a load of great fight scenes. There’s also a stand-out bad guy, which is something the previous films lacked a tad – the end fight is quality stuff. Aside from that, Matt Damon doesn’t have much to do – he says a total of 288 words, which is even less than you said on your last Tinder date. But you didn’t get $25million for that. On DVD and Blu-ray November 28 (pre-order on amazon.co.uk)
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Tickled
This documentary looks into the world of competitive endurance tickling, which is genuinely a thing, it turns out. Sounds funny, right? Well, it is – to begin with. New Zealand journalist and filmmaker David Farrier discovers this weird world online, and as any sane person would do, decides to find out more about it. What starts off as a jovial, light-hearted look at a strange subculture eventually descends into something altogether darker – it ends up almost like a true-crime documentary. It’s a bit like tickling itself – looks funny from the outside, but on the inside it’s hell and pain and crying. On digital download now (download on iTunes, download on amazon.co.uk) and VOD/DVD November 28 (pre-order on amazon.co.uk)
Bad Santa 2
The first Bad Santa is possibly Billy Bob Thornton’s finest role – the foul-mouthed, grizzled curmudgeon is a joy from start to finish, regardless of how utterly abrasive he is. Well, he’s back, and he’s grown even worse with age (like most people). This time around he’s hell-bent on scamming a charity, as well as capturing the affections of Christina Hendricks, who unfortunately works for said organisation. Joining him on his un-PC quest are returning roles played by Tony Cox and Brett Kelly, as well as the first appearance from a decidedly foul Kathy Bates as Thornton’s brash mum. This isn’t one for the easily offended, but for anyone who has even a slight allergic reaction to Christmas, it’s the perfect antidote. In cinemas November 23
