DVD OF THE WEEK

I LOVE YOU, MAN ****
Starring: Paul Rudd, Jason Segel, Rashida Jones
Dir: John Hamburg

What with much of the interchangeable dross Hollywood produces, its been a long time since a rom-com was my 'Pick of the Week”.
The problem with most rom-coms is that they are so contrived – unbelievable characters in unbelievable situations. I Love You, Man manages to create real characters, people who you believe in and care about. Its also incredibly funny.
After sidekick roles in 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up, and Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Paul Rudd stepped up with a joint lead in Role Models and here proves himself to be an almost perfect everyman. As Peter Klaven, he is about to marry the gorgeous Rashida Jones (Karen in the US version of The Office) but realises that despite having many women friends he has no male mates. Little wonder when his office workmates are such chauvinistic bores.
So Peter goes in search of new male friends with limited success, until he meets the totally unreconstructed, live life in the moment and be yourself, Sidney. Played by Jason Segel (Forgetting Sarah Marshall), Sidney is a wonderful creation, just bent enough to keep you on edge but with a real human presence. But can Peter keep Sidney in line long enough for him to be the best man at his wedding?
This is very gut-busting stuff (especially adding in Lou Ferrigno whose house Sidney is trying to sell) with only one moment of gross-out comedy and a real edge. The plot strands might wrap up a little too tidily at the end but by that point you'll like the characters so much that you'll be willing them on to a happy ending.
Terrific.

In Flashbacks of a Fool (***) Daniel Craig is a washed-up Hollywood star filling a depressed existence with a blur of coke and hookers. Word of the unexpected death of his closest childhood friend heralds an elongated flashback to young days in England at a time when people asked 'Who do you prefer – Bowie or Roxy?” and reveals the tragedy that led him to first leaving home. Acting and all production values are top-notch, and while the lack of incident might frustrate some this should find an appreciative audience amongst fans of quality English drama.

Guy X (***) is a laid-back comedy bringing to mind the likes of Catch 22 and other explorations of military dysfunction. Soldier Jason (American Pie) Biggs is dumped out of a plane, surprised to find himself not in Hawaii but on an isolated military runway in Greenland. They are expecting someone else, so he gets a new name. He also has to cope with his attraction to the lovely Natascha McElhone who, inconveniently, is the camp boss's girlfriend. And there are dark secrets on the military base. Don't expect fireworks and this film's low-key absurdity might win you over.

I've never seen the original TV show that the new Will Farrell vehicle Land of The Lost (**) is drawn from. It must have been better than this. Basically, we have a comedy remake of Journey to the Centre of the Earth as three unfortunates find themselves adrift in a land of dinosaurs. The budget clearly went on dino effects as opposed to the script though, oddly in a film that seems aimed at ten year olds, Danny McBride is on hand with intermittent obscene adult jokes. There's also the most irritating comedy sidekick since Jar Jar Binks. Avoid.

Anyone with a less than rosy view of New Zealand films (and there are still a few) will have it firmly confirmed by Diagnosis: Death (*). Purportedly a wacky comedy, it was written and stars comedian Rayban Kan and was clearly made with no budget to speak of. That can be an asset if there is a good script and imagination behind the camera. This film has neither and, despite the presence of Rhys Darby, Bret McKenzie, Jemaine Clement and other fine Kiwi comics, the only diagnosis here is Dire.