MARMADUKE
Watchable. A completely different story about the mischievous dog. Also, unlike the 2010 movie, this one is a cartoon version. Here the dog is naughty and ravenous but good-natured. The film regurgitates that plot formula where an animal protagonist has to take part in championships with an obstacle course. Animation-wise, it sees shiny cookery, mediocre fur and hair, a life-like backdrop and a rudimentary foreground. Often surrounding sound. They get creative with possible film titles: "The Fast and the Furriest", "Paws" during credits. Still, taken the plot, "Dog Recycled" would match it best. Less fun than the 2010 movie. There's a brief post-credit.
THE SPINE OF NIGHT
Switched off. This animation for adults is an extremely brutal, bloody fantasy with a ludicrous plot where a scholar craves blood and his wishes are fulfilled.
Reviewed from the distributor's screener, cinematic reception might differ.
SEE HOW THEY RUN
Watchable. Too crazy to be entertaining as a classical whodunnit. While it's set in London of 1952 and Agatha Christie is even one of the characters and the basis of the story is her "Mousetrap" - which opened that year, the number of script alterations, fast pace and constant movie quotes make the story overcomplicated, perplexing and just over the top to be fun. OK, it does have funny moments, like when the movie director shows one storyboard picture too many, but most of it, however engaging, requires constant deciphering of who says and does what and you can't just relax and have a laugh. Shirley Henderson doesn't resemble Agatha Christie in the slightest. Jacob Fortune-Lloyd as Gio doesn't look, sound or act like a "temperamental Neapolitan". Saoirse Ronan and Adrien Brody shine as Constable Stalker and Leo Köpernick respectively. It's a film about a film and a theatrical play - neither of the tropes work in movies in general. A least there's lots of Englishness: accent, tea and biscuits. Jazz music annoyingly accompanies end credits.
The film leaves you with a craving for tea and biscuits.
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