FILM HIGHLIGHTS
SUNDAY
SHREK THE THIRD (2007) BBC1, 2.35pm Animated sequel, with the voices of Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy, Antonio Banderas
and Rupert Everett. The grumpy ogre feels worn out by the responsibilities that have been placed on him as the heir of the kingdom of Far Far Away. Taking matters into his own hands, Shrek, Donkey and Puss set out to find a suitable replacement. Meanwhile, Princess Fiona is left at home to ward off a jilted Prince Charming, who still wants to steal the throne for himself. HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS (2000) ITV2, 4.05pm Ron Howard’s adaptation of Dr Seuss’s timeless children’s book, starring Jim Carrey, Taylor Momsen, Christine Baranski and Molly Shannon. A cranky green creature lives in the mountains above a bustling village that is eagerly preparing for Christmas. However, the Grinch has had enough of their cheer, and starts to plot a maniacal way to take it away from them for good. THE MASK (1994) ITV2, 8pm Comedy, starring Jim Carrey and Cameron Diaz. Bank clerk Stanley Ipkiss can’t quite catch a lucky break, until he stumbles across a strange wooden mask. Putting it on, he discovers that it transforms him into a largerthan-life character, who ends up doing whatever it wants, which leads to all sorts of trouble. GODZILLA (2014) RTE2, 9pm Gareth Edwards’s science fiction adventure, starring Aaron TaylorJohnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Bryan Cranston and Ken Watanabe. Soldier Ford Brody is concerned that his long-absent father has become obsessed with the nuclear disaster that claimed his mother’s life and looks to help him. However, Joe’s conspiracy theories prove to be right, when a gigantic creature emerges from the rubble of the long-dormant nuclear plant. Things take a further turn when an even larger reptilian creature surfaces from the sea. Now both behemoths are on a collision course, but can anyone find a way to stop them?
MONDAY
NOW Film4, 9pm YOU SEE ME 2 (2016) Jesse Woody Eisenberg, Harrelson Mark and Dave Ruffalo, Franco return for a second instalment of magical drama. Illusionist quartet The Four Horsemen are brought back together, however they soon find themselves forced to carry out an elaborate heist for an irritating tech guru. Daniel Radcliffe, Lizzy Caplan, Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman also feature. THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE (2004) TG4, 9.30pm Jonathan Demme’s political drama, with Denzel Washington, Liev Schreiber and Meryl Streep. A unit of American soldiers are involved in a harrowing situation during the first Gulf War. Years later, one of them begins to suspect that what they remember of the incident may not be what actually happened, and they have been involved in some kind of sinister brainwashing conspiracy. AMERICAN HISTORY X (1999) ITV4, 11.05pm Hard-hitting crime drama, with Edward Norton, Edward Furlong, Beverly D’Angelo and Ethan
Suplee. Derek Vinyard looks to repent for past actions he carried out while he was a Neo-Nazi. He hopes that he can convince his younger brother — who once idolised him to the point that he is now a skinhead — to turn away from the dangerous path that he is on, but there are some who refuse to let that happen.
TUESDAY
SUFFRAGETTE (2015) Film4, 6.50pm Biographical drama, with Carey Mulligan (right), Helena Bonham Carter, Meryl Streep and Ben Whishaw. In 1912, young working mother Maud Watts finds herself outraged by the repression that females face and decides to get involved with the activists who wish to secure the right for women to vote. However, their fight may end up pushing her further than she expected to go. THE HOLIDAY (2006) ITV2, 9pm Seasonal romantic comedy, with Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, Jude Law and Jack Black. Londoner Iris is left pining after her boss, who she loves, announces his engagement. Meanwhile, in LA, Amanda breaks up with her unfaithful boyfriend. Both are looking to get away from their lives and end up on the same website, agreeing to swap homes for the Christmas breaks. This leads to a number of surprising revelations — and romances — for them both.
WEDNESDAY
THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN — PART 1 (2011) E4, 9pm The first instalment to Bill Condon’s conclusion of the fantasy series, starring Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner. Edward and Bella are attempting to enjoy a quiet life together, when they find out that their unborn child could be the downfall of the peace between the vampires and werewolves. LOVE ACTUALLY (2003) ITV2, 9pm Richard Curtis’s Christmassy comedy features an ensemble cast that includes Bill Nighy, Colin Firth, Liam Neeson, Emma Thompson and Keira Knightley. A number of people find their lives brought together in magical and ridiculous ways during the festive period.
THURSDAY
WORLD WAR Z (2013) Film4, 9pm Brad Pitt stars in this action horror as Gerry Lane, a former United Nations employee who finds his life turned upside down when a deadly virus breaks out across the globe, turning people into ravenous zombies. It is now up to him to embark on a race against the clock to find a cure. PURSUIT (2014) Virgin Media 1, 9pm Action-packed retelling of the Irish legend of Diarmuid and Grainne starring Brendan Gleeson, Liam Cunningham and Ruth Bradley. The daughter of a major crime boss is in love with a comrade of the man her father has promised her to. Her actions soon set in motion a series of events that could end badly for everyone, especially the two lovebirds.
FRIDAY
DECK THE HALLS (2006) Virgin Media 1, 9pm Festive comedy, with Matthew Broderick, Danny DeVito and Kristin Chenoweth. Buddy Hall and his largerthan-life family move onto a new street right before Christmas. It is well known in the town that Buddy’s new neighbour, Steve Finch, likes to go big when it comes to his decorations. However, a friendly rivalry between them quickly escalates, which lands them both in bother with their families. ROCKY III (1982) RTE2, 9.30pm Hard-hitting drama, starring Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire and Mr T. Top boxer Rocky is on top of the world after winning the title. However, his newfound life of wealth has left him complacent, something a violent new adversary looks to exploit. TROPIC THUNDER (2008) BBC1, 12.40am Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr and Tom Cruise star in this comedy. A crew of Hollywood A-listers are having trouble completing a big-budget war movie, when the director decides to drop them in the jungle and film what happens. However, this quickly descends into violence and mayhem, as the stars find themselves facing a gang of dangerous militants.
SATURDAY
GHOSTBUSTERS (2016) Channel 4, 9pm Comedy remake, starring Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones. Four women are brought together when they start noticing unusual paranormal activity around New York. They decide to form a team and stop a supernatural threat that looks to destroy the city. THE NIGHT BEFORE (2015) RTE2, 9.25pm Festive comedy, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen and Anthony Mackie. Three friends have an annual tradition of going out on Christmas Eve and partying the night away. They decide that this will be the last year that they do it, and look to make this the wildest one yet. ALAN PARTRIDGE: ALPHA PAPA (2013) BBC2, 11.45pm Comedy, starring Steve Coogan and Colm Meaney. A big media conglomerate buys up the radio station where DJ Alan Partridge works, costing almost everyone their jobs. Alan’s co-worker Pat doesn’t take the news well, and things quickly escalate into a hostage situation — one that Alan insists on sorting out himself.