DVD and Blu-ray film reviews: From The Guest to Sin City 2

Nifty visual flourishes can’t compensate for the emptiness of this star-studded 'film noir', with its laughably dreadful script

Sin City 2: A Dame to Kill For (Hand out press photograph / film still from the movie Sin City 2 provided by Teresa Kowalski)

Sin City 2: A Dame to Kill For (18) Robert Rodriguez, Frank Miller DVD/Blu-ray (102mins)

Mickey Rourke’s meathead Marv gratuitously slays some frat boys before the dual “plots” begin. They centre on Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s unfortunate gambler’s determination to bring down Sin City’s biggest hoodlum (Powers Boothe) and Josh Brolin’s broken-hearted PI getting into a pickle with Eva Green’s demonic femme fatale (above). Nifty visual flourishes can’t compensate for the emptiness of this star-studded (Ray Liotta, Bruce Willis, Jessica Alba) “film noir”, with its laughably dreadful script (“An atom bomb goes off between my legs”). Green’s spectacularly unhinged performance belongs in another (better) film.

**

The Guest (15) Adam Wingard DVD/Blu-ray (100mins)

Dan Stevens (Downton’s Matthew Crawley) enjoys himself in this absurd but fun thriller, in which he plays a Bourne-like super soldier who charms the family of a former army buddy. First, he seems just the ticket for the grieving Petersons: he comforts Sheila Kelley’s mum, drinks with Leland Orser’s dad, pummels a few teens bullying Brendan Meyer’s son and escorts Maika Monroe’s daughter to a party. Then he goes too far, and the bodies start mounting. Very reminiscent of 1980s action cinema – and Stevens has the charisma to carry off the ambiguous lead role.

***

The Guvnors (15) Gabe Turner DVD/Blu-ray (95mins)

“It’s time to draw the line,” yells the tagline. Agreed. Haven’t we had enough British football hooligan films? Here, Mitch (Doug Allen) is yanked away from his suburban life and back to his childhood South London estate when his former boxing mentor (David Essex) is murdered by Harley Sylvester’s gangster. It’s corny, and it marginalises and brutalises the female characters, but this alpha-male drama is blessed with good direction, a nimble cameo from Essex and a compelling performance from Sylvester.

**

Sex Tape (15) Jake Kasdan DVD/Blu-ray (90mins)

“How the hell do you get it back?”, Annie (Cameron Diaz) writes in her blog about the lack of sexual activity with her husband, Jay (Jason Segel). So, the dreary marrieds record each bonking under the guidance of Alex Comfort’s The Joy of Sex. Of course, their session goes viral and social awkwardness ensues. Diaz and Segel, both limited comics, fail to ignite this deeply unpleasant sex comedy.

*

Battlestar Galactica: the Complete Original Series (PG) various directors DVD/Blu-ray (1,088mins)

“It may be the end of us all.” As pep talks from a leader go, in this case from Lorne Greene’s Commander Adama, it’s not ideal, but his stoical crew stick with him throughout this short-lived (one series, plus an ill-fated follow-up) 1970s sci-fi series. It’s badly dated and often dismally scripted – the 2000s reboot is far superior – but there’s nostalgic pleasure to be had watching the Viper pilots Apollo and Starbuck lock horns with the Cylons.

**