Movies

When The Hangover was released in 2009, nobody was expecting much from the comedy starring three under-the-radar actors — which is exactly why the surprisingly hilarious and original film took the world by storm and killed it at the box office. Fast-forward four years, and we're upon the release of The Hangover Part III, which suffers from the opposite effect. The film is highly anticipated by fans hoping to re-create the magic of the original (and forget Part II), but aside from a few sporadic laughs, the film is another disappointing instalment in a franchise that should have quit while it was ahead.

I have to give some credit to director Todd Phillips, who at least tried to go in a new direction with Part III. The "what happened last night?" formula showcased in the first two films is left behind this time, favouring a straight plotline centred on Alan (Zach Galifianakis) hitting rock bottom and the Wolfpack setting off on a road trip to get him to rehab. You don't need me to tell you that the plan goes terribly awry when Doug (Justin Bartha) is taken hostage and the guys are tasked with tracking down the elusive Mr. Chow (Ken Jeong). What you may not expect is that the story is so uneven that I actually found myself missing all the blacked-out-drunken drama. Without that element, it feels like one of the characters is missing from the movie.

To see what else I thought of The Hangover Part III, just keep reading.

If you were hoping to see more of Jennifer Aniston's naughty side after her turn in Horrible Bosses, then the trailer for her new film, We're the Millers, is probably up your alley. Aniston stars as a stripper who agrees to go along on a mission with her drug-dealing neighbour (Jason Sudeikis), posing as said neighbour's wife. They also enlist a couple of random kids (one of which is played by Emma Roberts) to help them cross the border into Mexico.

The preview has a few laughs, and also feels a bit like a who's who of the comedy world, with appearances by Ed Helms, Kathryn Hahn, Ken Marino and Nick Offerman. I support any project that breaks Aniston out of the typically cheesy romantic comedy formula, and let's face it: we all know she has a bikini bod that's worth flaunting, and there's plenty of that here. Plus, she and Sudeikis just might make a dysfunctional pair worth rooting for.

We're the Millers hits cinemas Aug. 15, but check out the trailer when you keep reading.

The movie everyone is buzzing about is The Great Gatsby. It finally premiered in Sydney last night at the end of its promo tour, with the cast and crew walking the red carpet literally hundreds of metres away from where the bulk of the film was shot, and will be in cinemas from May 30. Baz Luhrmann’s adaptation of the iconic American novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald has been well-documented for lots of reasons, so let’s recap them now before you get lost in his 3D world.

1. The Great Gatsby has been brewing in Baz’s mind for about 10 years. He listened to the audio book while on a Trans-Siberian Railway trip — he doesn’t really like reading because he’s slow at it — and apparently had Leonardo DiCaprio, his leading man from 1996’s Romeo + Juliet, in mind for the titular role from that listening session.

More facts, including the actors who were almost cast in this movie, when you keep reading.

Actor and all-around adorable person Joseph Gordon-Levitt is making his directorial debut with Don Jon (formerly titled Don Jon's Addiction), in which he stars as a guy with old-fashioned values — mostly. He prioritises his family, his friends, his faith, but most of all his porn. When the normally womanising Jon falls for hopeless romantic Barbara (Scarlett Johansson), he thinks he can juggle her and his secret addiction. Then she walks in on him in front of the computer, and he's not checking his email.

I know this doesn't sound like a traditionally romantic film, but the trailer is so damn charming! The movie seems quirky yet painfully honest, and how can you resist seeing Gordon-Levitt singing "Good Vibrations" to himself in the car? His cute personal message at the beginning about how important this film is to him doesn't hurt, either. There's no Australian release date yet, but you can check out the trailer after the jump.

It's been four years since Hugh Jackman flexed his claws for X-Men Origins: Wolverine and a few months since we got the first trailer of him in this year's follow-up, The Wolverine. We already know this movie takes place after the events of X-Men: The Last Stand, when Logan flees to Japan. In this new instalment, a man whose life he once saved offers to give him the gift of mortality, but that doesn't mean he gets to lead a peaceful life. People are still after him, and this time Logan's not exactly equipped to fight. The second trailer has dropped, and even if you've already seen the first one, there are some key differences.

• Jean Grey is back. OK, so she's just back in dream form, but the late Jean (Famke Janssen) makes an appearance in this trailer. It seems poor Logan is being tormented by the memory of his former lover — is this some kind of foreshadowing? Will he ever be able to move on and find someone new?
• It's not as cryptic as the first trailer. While the first trailer devotes precious time to catching up with Wolverine (he's hiding out in remote bars, Skyfall-style), this one gets right down to the point. He agrees to undergo some type of experimental treatment that will make him slightly more human, and in the midst of his sessions, he gets attacked. Speaking of . . .
• More action! There's extended footage of a crazy fight on top of trains, but even more exciting? There's some kind of giant robot-ninja — ninja-robot? I'll be curious to see how the transitioning Wolverine can handle such an opponent.

The Wolverineopens July 25, and you can watch the trailer after the jump.

The Cannes Film Festival brings Hollywood's biggest stars to the South of France each year, and aside from its cinematic significance, the festival is known for its elegant red carpet setting, star-studded parties on La Croisette, and all-around glamour. While Cannes has been an annual event since 1946, its unique day-to-day protocol is still confusing. As a helpful guide, we are breaking down the frequently asked questions about the famous film festival. Keep reading for the FAQs.