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Our movie guy, James Finnegan, looks at Saturday night movies with different comedic styles and some thrills…
That which makes us laugh can vary so much from person to person with styles including a sharp script with clever word play, absurd situations, gentle humour and pure slapstick.
There is a bit of everything in this week’s film selections plus some good old fashioned action.
I brought my granddaughter to see The Boss Baby (6.35pm Saturday RTE1) when it was released and we both found it hilarious, perhaps because we both have younger siblings.
Tim Templeton is seven. He has his parents total focus, so when a new baby brother arrives, Tim is no longer the centre of attention.
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What is strange is that Baby wears a suit and tie, carries a briefcase, behaves like a baby when in the sight of adults, but, as Tim notices, behaves like an adult when none are around.
Baby Ted is, in fact, a secret agent waging war in the battle between babies and puppies for adults love. After some fun incidents, Baby and Tim find common ground and cause to work together.
With a vocal talent cast including Alec Baldwin in the title role, Jimmy Kimmel and Lisa Kudrow as the parents, Miles Bakshi as young Tim and Tobey Maguire as the adult Tim, this is a fine Saturday evening family film.
Our favourite amnesiac superspy, Jason Bourne (Matt Damon), returns in The Bourne Supremacy (9.00pm Saturday RTE2).
Jason is living in India, with his girlfriend Marie, minding his own business when he is framed by Russian agent Krill (Karl Urban) for stealing millions from the CIA.
Deputy CIA Director Pamela Landy (Joan Allen) has no problem believing Bourne is guilty, and sends agents after him.
Krill is also looking to tie up some loose ends so he is on Bourne’s trail as well. CIA Section Chief Ward Abbott (Brian Cox) also has secrets to keep.
Unfortunately Marie is killed by a bullet meant Bourne. So Bourne sets out to avenge Marie and prove his innocence by bring the true culprits to book.
This is the second in the Bourne franchise and directed by Paul Greengrass, it is a rollercoaster of an action film and perfect for Saturday night.
Benny and Joon (9.20pm Saturday TG4) is a wonderful, gentle comedy that could so easily have been a disastrous mess.
That it is not is due to some finely judged performances by Aidan Quinn (Benny), Mary Stuart Masterson (Joon) and Sam (Johnny Depp).
Benny works to support himself and his sister Joon. She stays at home and paints as she has her own challenges with good and bad times for all.
Benny has one release, a poker game where the stakes are quirky and non monetary. Losing a game ends up with Sam moving in with the siblings.
Depp’s performance is nuanced and affecting, with resonances of the stars of the Silent Movie World such as Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin, but it is Quinn’s performance that anchors the film. Enjoy and stay safe.
