The Man Who Knew Too Little
dir. Jon Amiel (1997)
A largely unheralded ‘mistaken identity’ spy comedy that proves more interested in being funny than good. Those who dislike Bill Murray will find nothing here to change their opinion, but the script wrings plenty of laughs from an outlandish premise wholeheartedly embraced.
Groundhog Day
dir. Harold Ramis (1993)
Perfectly executed, its scenario grounded in the real-world town of Punxsutawney and its annual Groundhog Day festival, the story riffing through loops that, while sometimes as dark as they are funny, reveal a surprising measure of philosophical depth. High re-watch value (appropriately).
The Monuments Men
dir. George Clooney (2014)
An important story but largely unsatisfying as a film. The cast is split up in a piecemeal treasure hunt that lays little emotive groundwork for the big character moments. Clooney’s script promotes a ‘flippancy under fire’ humour that doesn’t really come off.