An Operation best avoided
Operation Chromite Cert 15
A STELLAR cast can’t save this modern-day Christmas Carol.
A sombre Will Smith is Howard, a successful advertising guru who is bereaved and neglecting his business.
Kate Winslet, Michael Peña and Edward Norton play his closest colleagues, colluding to have him certified mentally unsound so they can sell the company. At Christmas time.
Helen Mirren, Keira Knightley and Jacob Latimore play three actors employed by the scheming trio to pretend to be Death, Love and Time. A bit like Scrooge’s three ghosts.
Naomie Harris is the hottie who runs Howard’s support group, so it’s not all bad news for the chap. But she’s the only likeable character here. Even the kids are horrible.
As the twist ending is flagged up early and often, there’s no surprise, just immense relief it’s all over. THE fate of South Korea rests on an undercover mission in this tepid Cold War action flick. Korean megastar Lee Jung-jae plays Jang Hak-soo, the leader of eight soldiers who infiltrate the North Korean military in 1950. They must obtain intelligence so a UN backed invasion can proceed and free the country from the tyrannical regime. With three heists to squeeze in, we’re straight into the action. So the good guys begin to be whittled down before we can establish their specialities – or even their names. The loud, blood-splatting shoot-outs are fine, the car chases not so much. Liam Neeson scowls and growls as US General MacArthur – but he’s unnecessary. The story wouldn’t be altered a bit if you removed his character, and we’d be spared some dull office interludes.