There’s something to be said for a kids’ TV program that you can still remember some 30 odd years later.
Of course, some you remember for all the wrong reasons. The bad music, the bonkers characters and the underlying feeling that the producers may have been intoxicated when they came up with the concept!
But some you remember simply because they got it so right. Because they taught you something, because they made you laugh out loud or because they’re the characters you can’t wait to show your little ones. Here are some of those…
1. Babar
The regal elephant instilled two of life’s great lessons into viewers from an early age: see the world and family is everything. Most episodes involved the King and Queen of Celesteville on an amazing globe-trotting adventure with their four kids. Together they seemed like the perfect family — not because they didn’t argue, but because when they did, Babar always reminded them about the importance of family.
2. Tenderheart
Whilst picking your favourite Care Bear is a bit like being asked to pick your favourite child, there’s no denying that Tenderheart is the kind of furry friend you want in your corner for life. The cuddly round bear with the big ol’ heart was always front and centre when it came to dishing out compassion, inspiring us to be kinder on a daily basis.
3. B1 and B2
Aside from having the catchiest theme song ever, Bananas in Pyjamas was ultimately a celebration of collaboration. When B2 would ask, “Are you thinking what I’m thinking, B1?” he taught everyone about working together and the value of partnership. Plus, the show was a triumph for friendship in the face of adversity. It’s not every day bananas, bears and rats end up being great friends, after all.
4. Fireman Sam
We don’t know if there’s a record for number of fires put out or cats saved from trees, but let’s be clear, if there was, Fireman Sam would win on both counts. The cartoon hero has saved residents of Pontypandy more times than anyone can remember and always remains calm during an emergency. We do love a man who can keep a clear head in a crisis.
5. Arthur
Despite hilariously being dubbed John Legend’s doppelgänger recently, Arthur Read is actually most famous for teaching kids that it’s ok to be themselves and not like everyone else. The aardvark (yes, that’s what Arthur is) and his friends regularly touch on the theme that everyone is different and you shouldn’t ever be embarrassed about things you like —
reason #987 to love Arthur at any age. Different is good!
6. Chuckie Finster
Out of all the Rugrats you probably weren’t expecting to see Chuckie’s name up here. But, Chuckie is braver than Tommy Pickles or mean ol’ Angelica. Why? Because he routinely (albeit not always willingly) faces his fears to follow his friends and stick together. Unlike Tommy and the twins, Chuckie’s nature makes him see the bad in everything, but having the courage to overcome that time and again is what’s impressive. We can all take a leaf out of his book next time we’re scared.
7. Winnie the Pooh
There are hundreds and thousands of life lessons to be found in The Hundred Acre Wood, but perhaps one of the most important and relevant notions is the idea of living in the moment. Pooh, Piglet and co. were famous for being fully present in The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, and without wanting to sound like a pretentious new-age blog, that’s something we can all try to learn from in our adult life. As the famous phrase goes: “‘What day is it?’ says Pooh. ‘It’s today,’ squeaked Piglet. ‘My favorite day,’ said Pooh.”
8. Mr. Wombat
Looking back, Mr. ‘Wombo’ Wombat legitimately deserves a medal for all the times he kept mischievous Blinky Bill in line. He’s the stereotypical village elder who’s always there with a generous heart to mentor and offer advice — no matter how many times Blinky Bill calls him ‘Wombo’. He was the prime example of the unwavering guidance older members of the community can offer younger generations and a part of us wishes that Mr. Wombat existed in real life. You too?
Australia has been fascinated with Schapelle Corby, 40, since that fateful day in October 2004 when Bali police found 4.2kg of marijuana in her boogie board bag.
Since returning home, Corby has become a prolific social media user. Her Instagram account has amassed a whopping 190K followers, to whom she shares everything – from her recent knee surgeries, to getting her drivers licence, to sponsored posts cheekily promoting a boogie board company.
With whisperings of a Schapelle Corby movie and explosive interviews in the works, we’ve compiled a timeline to refresh your memory about the convicted drug-smuggler’s tumultuous life.
A girl from the Gold Coast to a convicted drug smuggler: The timeline of Schapelle Corby’s life
July 10, 1977: Schapelle Leigh Corby is born, the third child of Michael Corby and Rosleigh Rose. She grows up on the Queensland Gold Coast.
1979: Corby’s parents divorce and her father leaves the family home.
1991: At the age of 14, Corby tries drugs for the first time. She writes later in her autobiography My Story “I soon learnt that dope wasn’t good for me …”.
1995: At the age of 17, Schapelle takes her first trip to Bali. She stays there for six months.
Shortly after returning home she travels to Japan, where Mercedes is living. She stays there for 10 weeks.
June, 1995: At a Coles supermarket on the Gold Coast, Corby meets a Japanese tourist named Kimi Tanaka.
June 19, 1998: Corby marries Tanaka in a Japanese surfing town.
July, 2000: Corby and her husband of two years separate.
Corby returns home via Bali, where she meets her mother. They spend two weeks there.
2003: Corby’s divorce is finalised.
She enrols in a 12-month beautician’s course at TAFE, with a goal of becoming a beauty therapist. She does not complete the course.
Towards the end of the year, her father Mick is diagnosed with cancer.
October 8, 2004: At the age of 27, Corby flies from Brisbane to Bali via Sydney for a holiday. She is with her half-brother James and two friends. The trip coincides with Mercedes’ 30th birthday.
Customs officials at Denpasar airport in Bali find 4.2 kilograms of marijuana in her bodyboard bag. She is arrested.
January 28, 2005: Corby’s trial begins in Denpasar District Court.
Schapelle Corby is escorted by prosecutors into a court room before her trial in Denpasar, on Bali Island, January 2005.
Prosecutors tell the court that Corby admitted on the night of her arrest that the marijuana was hers and that as her bag was opened Customs officers heard her say “No! No! I have some…”. Corby counters that she voluntarily opened the bag and immediately denied the drugs were hers.
February 25, 2005: Gold Coast businessman Ron Bakir offers to help Corby.
March 3, 2005: Corby’s defence begins. Her legal team posits that the drugs were planted in her bag. They argue that this is supported by the fact that no precautions had been taken to hide the drugs.
March 24, 2005: Corby testifies. She tells the court she had no idea how the marijuana ended up in her bag.
The defence suggests that baggage handlers in an Australian airport planted the drugs as part of a smuggling network.
April 14, 2005: Corby collapses in the courtroom with Mercedes blaming the intense media attention.
April 28, 2005: Corby delivers a direct address to the court.
April 29, 2005: John Patrick Ford tells the court in Denpasar he overheard prisoners talking about a stash of marijuana that was lost while being smuggled by baggage handlers.
May 25, 2005: Australian Justice Minister Chris Ellison says the government is looking at a prisoner exchange agreement.
Schapelle Corby bursts into tears as she is sentenced to 20 years in jail in a Denpasar courtroom on in May, 2005.
May 27, 2005: The court delivers its verdict. Corby is found guilty of importing a narcotic into Indonesia. She is sentenced to 20 years in jail and fined $13,875. The verdict is broadcast live on Australian television.
May 30, 2005: Perth QCs Mark Trowell and Tom Percy are recruited to help Corby’s defence.
June 14, 2005: Corby’s Indonesian legal team file an appeal, requesting that her case be reopened and new evidence heard. Indonesian prosecutors file a separate appeal demanding she be jailed for life.
June 22, 2005: Mark Trowell QC claims that Corby’s Indonesian defence team asked for $500,000 to bribe the appeal judges. The Indonesian judges deny the claim.
June 24, 2005: Corby fires her Indonesian legal team.
June 26, 2005: Corby re-instates her team in part.
July 5, 2005: The Bali High Court rules the case should be reopened by the District Court, allowing more witnesses to give evidence.
October 13, 2005: The High Court cuts her sentence to 15 years. Prosecutors appeal against the cut.
January 19, 2006: The Supreme Court overturns the reduced sentence and reinstates her original 20-year sentence.
March 17, 2006: The bodyboard bag and drugs are destroyed on court orders. This is an indication the case is permanently closed. The judges reject a final appeal unless extraordinary evidence is presented.
June 29, 2006: Australia and Indonesia are reported to be close to signing a prisoner swap deal which would allow Australians convicted of drug offences in Indonesia to serve their sentences in Australian prisons. The deal is never finalised.
July 20, 2006: The case is reopened in Denpasar District Court but only one expert witness testifies. The Court gives the defence until August 3 to produce new witnesses.
Schapelle Corby is escorted by police to a court in Denpasar, on Bali island, August 2006.
August 3, 2006: The court refuses to grant her lawyers more time to find new witnesses and shuts down the reopened trial.
August 11, 2006: Corby’s lawyers lodge a judicial review, their last avenue to overturn her conviction. They argue the original court erred in the definition of drug importation and in excluding some witnesses.
August 25, 2006: Corby reappears before the Denpasar District Court and her lawyers submit a letter from an Australian Government official stating the CCTV cameras in the Sydney International Airport were working October 8, 2005 and could prove the drugs were planted in her bag. Footage is never presented or found.
November, 2006: Corby releases her autobiography, My Story.
January 18, 2008: Mick Corby, Schapelle’s father, dies of cancer in a Brisbane hospital.
March 28, 2008: Indonesia’s Supreme Court rejects Corby’s final appeal, exhausting her legal options for release.
May, 2008: Corby is hospitalised for depression. She remains in hospital for some months.
Schapelle Corby is escorted by a policeman as she leaves a beauty salon in Denpasar, July 2008.
July 2, 2008: Corby is spotted with two guards at a nearby beauty salon.
July 8, 2008: Corby is transferred back to Kerobokan Prison.
April 4, 2012: Indonesia’s Justice and Human Rights Ministry recommends Corby’s prison sentence be slashed by 10 years on humanitarian grounds.
April 13, 2010: Corby makes a plea for clemency to president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.She asks the president to quash her conviction or cut her sentence. She claims that she is suffering from depression inside Kerobokan and that her life is at risk if she stays there.
May 15, 2012: President Yudhoyono grants clemency to Corby, granting her a five-year reduction in her sentence.
May 25, 2012: Corby becomes eligible for parole after serving two-thirds of her sentence. In addition to the five-year cut conferred by the president, Corby’s sentence has been reduced further through remissions marking Christmas and Indonesian Independence Day.
October 2, 2013: Corby’s application for parole is approved by the Bali Justice Ministry.
February 7, 2014: Corby is granted parole.
February 10, 2014: Corby is released from prison on parole.
Schapelle Corby is escorted by police and prison officials at the prosecutor’s office after she was freed from prison on parole.
Between February, 2014 and May, 2017: Corby must remain in Bali on parole and report at least monthly to the Bali corrections board.
April 13, 2017: A teary Corby, now 39, asks when she would be allowed to reenter the country for “sightseeing”. Typically, foreigners deported from Indonesia are banned from entering the country for at least six months.
Schapelle Corby, seen with her face obscured with a shawl, is escorted by officials as she makes her way home to Australia, May 2017.
May 27, 2017: Corby flies home to Australia.
July 26, 2017 Corby uses her social media account, which has seen a massive growth in followers, to promote a boogie board company.
For many Australians, Lisa McCune will always be kind-hearted cop Maggie Doyle in Blue Heelers. After all, it was the role that won her four TV WEEK Gold Logies. But she’s also been on our screens as a doctor, a lawyer, a Navy officer and more.
Currently in ABC drama The Warriors, she’s a PR manager with a soft spot for a bad boy.
“What’s great as an actor is that as you get older, more things click into place,” Lisa, 46, tells TV WEEK. “You kind of get better at it.”
Looking back, Lisa spills all about babies, Cate Blanchett and makeshift toilets.
Senior Constable Maggie Doyle, Blue Heelers (1994-2000)
Senior Constable Maggie Doyle, Blue Heelers (1994-2000)
“When I was filming the first episode, I remember feeling really excited and somewhat overwhelmed. I was blown away by people like John Wood, Julie Nihill and William McInnes. I felt I’d landed in the best place in the world as a young actor. John was like a dad to me. I saw him at his 70th birthday [in 2016]. He’s actually on tour with a play with Julie later in the year. I miss them – they were such a formative part of my life.”
Senior Constable Maggie Doyle, Blue Heelers (1994-2000)
Senior Constable Maggie Doyle, Blue Heelers (1994-2000)
“I don’t know why people loved the relationship between Maggie and PJ [Martin Sacks] so much. I don’t think it was intended to go that way. At the start, Maggie was like the jilted girl who Grant Bowler’s character, Wayne, had passed over. Marty and I were such great mates – we laughed all day. I think the chemistry that was off-screen worked on-screen. He lives in a different state now, but I know he’s one person who would always have my back, even now.”
Lieutenant Kate McGregor, Sea Patrol (2007-2011)
Lieutenant Kate McGregor, Sea Patrol (2007-2011)
“Wearing the same uniform every day was really easy. But I did love it when we went from the all-in-one overall set to the two-piece, because when you’re out at sea, there’s not always a toilet to go to! So it was easy to nick into a cabin and use a bucket and then get rid of it overboard. Working alongside the Australian Navy was incredible. So many fine young men and women worked with us.”
Ros Marshall, Marshall Law (2002)
Ros Marshall, Marshall Law (2002)
“I think that had Marshall Law not aired at 9.30pm and if it had been given another season, it might have kicked on a bit. Alison Whyte is one of the best talents in this country – I’m a huge fan. We had a great time on that show. Because we’d just had our first babies, we were both nicking off to go and feed. We were in a really similar place.”
Dr Sam Stewart, Reef Doctors (2013)
Dr Sam Stewart, Reef Doctors (2013)
“I do believe that was one of the best ensemble casts, with some of the finest talent. Andy Ryan and Chloe Bayliss and Rohan Nichol and Matt Day… God, it was a fine cast. We just got off to a bumpy start and it was shafted in the first week. But people who saw a bit of it liked it. It wasn’t really an adults’ or a kids’ show, but it could have kicked on.”
Laura, Little Fish (2005)
Laura, Little Fish (2005)
“I had such a small role in the film. Cate Blanchett was flying all over the place. I remember one day, we were filming at Cabramatta. She flew in from LA in the morning and went on [set]. She just knows her stuff. It’s in her blood. She seems so well-prepared and very creative. She’s just a creative beast. I don’t know her very well, but she’s just lovely.”
Look, women have made a lot of giant leaps towards equality over time. We now vote, we go to university, we work – but there’s a glaring disparity which we can no longer ignore.
That, my friends, is our inability to swim in the ocean when we have a period because we will be bitten by a shark while men are free to frolic in the waves all year round.
This phenomenon is taking the world by storm. Surely you, or someone you know, have been victim to the sharp teeth of the ocean’s apex predator at least once.
How do we know this? Because surfing legend Laird Hamilton revealed to TMZ facts so advanced that even science hasn’t caught up yet.
“The biggest, most common reason to be bitten is a woman with her period, which people don’t even think about that,” he said, in his best impersonation of Squirt from Finding Nemo.
The biggest, most common reason.
Interesting.
“Obviously if a woman has her period there’s a certain amount of blood in the water,” he continued.
Obviously.
All I can say is thank goodness for Hamilton’s expertise. We’ve been fed all this #fakenews about how little women are attacked by sharks for far too long.
Factual reports have been telling us that for every 100 shark attacks, just over six will be women.
Data has led us to believe that since 1941, of the 1132 recorded shark attacks in Australia only 64 involved women. There were 100 reports that didn’t name the victim’s gender, but even if every single one of them were women, that would still pale in comparison to the 968 males involved in shark attacks.
John West, the curator of the Australian Shark Attack File at Taronga Zoo, told Fairfax that’s “probably because men are more likely to do stupid things.”
But do not fear because Hamilton has revealed what no scientist has been brave enough to divulge.
So please ignore the reports and stay out of the water when you’re menstruating, ladies.
As Hamilton says: “It’s kind of like running around with a lightning rod and then wondering why you got struck by lightning.”
Anyone who’s ever forgotten their sports bra to a workout will relate when we say that we’re envious of Roxy Jacenko’s new superpower in reducing her cup size in the blink of an eye.
Taking to social media, the new-found gym junkie revealed the very unexpected way she makes her boob-magic happen, and let’s just say that it’s not for the faint-hearted.
In an Instagram story posted on Thursday, the PR maven revealed she’s been attending cryotherapy, an extreme cooling treatment whereby the undertaker is exposed to a nitrogen gas chamber set to the shiver-inducing temperature of around -135 degrees.
It’s said to boost metabolism, encourage weight-loss, boost endorphins, elevate physical and mental well-being, flush toxins, and relieve joint pain and inflammation. Oh, and apparently it reverses the effects of breast augmentation.
“When one’s boobs go from a D to an A cup in 120 seconds,” the 36-year-old, who had breast enlargement surgery at 24, wrote alongside a photo of her during the treatment.
Cryotherapy is just the latest in Roxy’s pursuit to optimum health following her breast cancer diagnosis last year.
“After my cancer diagnosis in 2016, I realised that being fit and healthy was the most important factor in me overcoming my diagnosis and also being able to look after my children and businesses,” Roxy tells us.
“Since focusing on my health I have noticed an increase in what I can handle and also other smaller things like good quality sleep (albeit still only 3-4 hours!).”
No, it’s not just the editing. Victorians Fiona and Nicole really are as difficult as they come across in House Rules, according to fellow reno rookie Daniella.
“That’s actually them,” Daniella says. “They came in with the wrong mentality. It was all about them. They played the game from the get-go, which got them into trouble.”
The single mums have been slammed on social media.
“Fiona and Nicole, you are ungrateful,” one fan wrote on Instagram, while another shared, “Glad to see karma has caught up with them.”
Daniella is competing on House Rules with her husband Aaron.
“I feel sorry for them,” Daniella says of the backlash. “But they should have been more careful in their approach. They like to argue.”
Daniella believes renovations suffered because of the pair, especially Kate and Harry’s. She says there was a reason other teams gave in to their demands.
“The girls were so determined,” she explains. “In the end, you just threw up your hands.”
Daniella claims there is a nice side to the girls. It just took the other teams “a very long time” to find it.
“When they let down their guards, you can have a great conversation with them,” she says.
Earlier this week, some of you may have caught a glance at terrifying footage of a young Canadian girl being yanked into the water by a sea lion.
Well, while the world laughed at the now-viral video, according to 9News, the animal care staff at Vancouver Aquarium became instantly worried over the welfare of the child – specifically because she may be at risk of rare disease known as seal finger.
It is reported that animals like seals and seal ions carry a bacteria called mycoplasma phocacerebrale, so if humans are bitten by one of these creates, they can potentially develop infections.
These infections can be so serious that they are resistant to some anitbiotics, and, in the past, have even resulted in those bitten to have their fingers or hands amputated.
“If any member of our animal care team receives a bite from a sea or sea lion, they take a letter from our vet with them to the hospital, which explains that the infection is resistant to some antibiotics,” Vancouver Aquarium spokesperson Deana Lancaster told ABC News.
“The family saw the media reports and got in touch with us. She did get a superficial wound, and she’s going to get the right treatment.”
The Lau family are adamant that they didn’t feed the seal before it latched on to their little girl, claiming she was just trying to get a closer look at the sea mammal.
In recent episodes, a cheating scandal rocked Zac’s marriage to Leah (Ada Nicodemou). The fallout saw their relationship crumble and Zac leave to live in Vietnam.
While Zac’s portrayer, Charlie Clausen, says he “couldn’t have asked for a better exit”, he does so with a heavy heart.
“On one hand, I’m going to miss everybody, and on the other it felt like it was the right time to go,” the 39-year-old says.
“I was happy with the work I’d done − and the storyline wrapped up nicely.”
Recalling his time on the popular Aussie drama, Charlie reveals he’ll miss his co-star Ada the most.
“I’m really proud of what Ada and I did together,” he enthuses. “I loved working with her.”
So much so, he says he’s open to making a return to Summer Bay in the future.
“I’d definitely think about coming back… at least to cause a little trouble!” he teases.
In the meantime, Charlie has Hollywood in his sights and hopes to expand on his weekly podcast TOFOP, which he presents alongside comedian Wil Anderson of Gruen fame.
“I can’t say anything yet, but we’re looking to expand on the brand, do a few more live shows and branch out into other mediums,” he hints.
Obsessed with Seinfeld? Have a hankering to relive the drama of All Saints? Just want to hear the theme song to The Fresh Prince of Bel Air? Make yourself comfy and settle in for a big day of binge watching. Here’s where you can stream all your favourite ’90s sitcoms…
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air S1-6
(Comedy, PG, 148 episodes)
★★★★★
How best to describe The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air? Well, this is a story all about how my life got flipped, turned upside down… don’t pretend you don’t know the words!
Apart from being a launching pad for a young Will Smith, The Fresh Prince had the all-time greatest TV theme song. Will Smith plays Will Smith – a young man from West Philadelphia (“born and raised”) who moves in with his aunt and uncle in the bourgeois suburb of Bel-Air. The bromance between Will and his cousin Carlton (Alfonso Ribeiro) is the highlight of the show. Yo Holmes, Smell Ya Later!
ALL SAINTS S1-12
(Drama, M, 493 episodes)
★★★★
All Saints is an Aussie classic. Creator Bevan Lee’s track record is impressive – Packed To The Rafters, City Homicide and A Place To Call Home are all his. Bevan can craft characters that audiences identify with. All Saints fave Georgie Parker won two Gold Logies for her role as nurse Terri.
Seinfeld S1-9
(Comedy, PG, 180 episodes)
★★★★★
When Seinfeld debuted in 1989, NBC thought it would be a one-season wonder. But even now, Jerry Seinfeld’s (above right) hilarious “show about nothing” has something for everyone.
Lines like “Yada yada”, “No soup for you” and “These pretzels are making me thirsty!” are part of our everyday speech.
FRASIER S1-11
(Comedy, M, 287 episodes)
★★★★
Few sitcoms stand the test of time like Frasier. Kelsey Grammer is superb as eccentric shrink Dr Frasier Crane, whose radio talk show is often an outlet for his own problems. Meanwhile, David Hyde Pierce is perfect as Frasier’s pretentious yet hapless brother, Niles, whose long list of phobias creates great humour.
Full House S1-8
(Sitcom, PG, 192 episodes)
★★★★
After his wife dies, Danny Tanner (Bob Saget) enlists the help of his brother-in-law, Jesse (John Stamos), and comedian pal, Joey (Dave Coulier), to help raise his three young daughters.
While there’s plenty of cheesy jokes and cutesy moments, the show also tackles serious topics. And with sequel Fuller House now streaming, there’s no better time to relive a piece of ’90s gold.
The Vicar Of Dibley S3
(Comedy, M, 4 episodes)
★★★
She’s not your average vicar, but she knows how to show the folk of Dibley a good time! In this popular British comedy, Dawn French plays Geraldine Granger, whose methods have a conservative village in a spin. This season, the chocolate-obsessed cleric finds herself involved in an overly realistic nativity play, a failed proposal and a protest at the church.
In the mood for a movie? From classics to comedy, we’ve got you covered. Browse our top streaming picks below.
Rocky 1-6
(Sporting drama, M, 630 mins total)
★★★★
How do you explain the indelible mark the Rocky movies have made on the Hollywood landscape?
The creator and star of the franchise, Sylvester Stallone, nailed it when he suggested the movies weren’t really about the boxing. The films are knockouts because they’re not so much about the science of trading blows, but having a swing at life when you’re surrounded by doubters.
Bad Moms
(Comedy, MA15+, 100 mins)
★★
Bad Moms looks exactly like the type of light and fluffy, so-bad-it’s-good comedy we need for a Friday night in with the girls. But we’re sorry to say it falls a long way short.
The premise is funny: fed up with useless husbands, their careers and overbearing PTA yummy mummies, Amy (Mila Kunis), Carla (Kathryn Hahn) and Kiki (Kristen Bell) kick their domestic duties to the kerb and embrace being bad mums. Sadly the whole thing feels half-baked and a bit ‘been there, done that’. Steer clear if cringeworthy jokes about unflattering bras and not being good at Zumba don’t do it for you.
Garden State
(Drama, MA15+, 100 mins)
★★★★★
For a long time, Zach Braff was known as “that guy from Scrubs”. But in 2004, he made Garden State, an indie film he wrote, starred in and directed.
The movie seemed to sound the arrival of a new Zach Braff. It follows the story of Andrew Largeman (Zach), who returns to his home town in New Jersey – the Garden State – for his mother’s funeral.
His homecoming isn’t exactly triumphant. In fact, it’s more tragic, as Andrew struggles to reconnect with his old home. The silver lining is Sam (Natalie Portman), a curious young woman and compulsive liar who captures Andrew’s heart.
Michael Clayton
(Thriller, MA15+, 120 mins)
★★★★
Oscar-winner George Clooney is at his best in this legal thriller. George plays Michael Clayton, a silver-tongued “fixer” for a big New York law firm. Michael is good at his job, likeable and always in demand. So he’s pretty surprised when his car is blown up and it becomes clear someone is trying to kill him.
So begins a cat-and-mouse game as he tries to uncover who wants to bump him off. With no-one to trust and everything to lose, this is a top-shelf thriller with an all-star cast.
How To Be Single
(Comedy, M, 110 mins)
★★★★
After breaking up with her college boyfriend, Alice (Dakota Johnson, above) moves to New York.
There, she soon befriends Robin (Rebel Wilson, above right), a quirky Aussie party girl who teaches Alice how to navigate single life. What ensues between the new pals often verges on cliché, but it’s surprisingly fun. The real star of the film is Leslie Mann as Meg, Alice’s single, career-driven sister.
Meg’s struggle to decide between having a baby and her successful career as a doctor is both heartwarming and hilarious.
Sandy Wexler
(Comedy, M, 131 mins)
★★★
Let’s be honest: a good Adam Sandler film is few and far between these days. But could his latest flick, Sandy Wexler, be the turnaround point for the actor? Set in ’90s Los Angeles, Adam stars as a hapless talent manager who falls in love with one of his clients, Courtney Clarke (Jennifer Hudson).
Their roller-coaster love story is played out over a decade as her career skyrockets.
Lisa McCune
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