GOOD FRIDAY
For The Love Of Chocolate Three, 1.40pm Not reviewed.
Peter Rabbit
TVNZ 2, 7.05pm
Starring James Corden, Rose Byrne. This throwback to childhood is a re-invented version of the classic children’s tale which burrows into modern live-animation techniques to tell a sort-of Potteresque story. James Corden takes time out from his late-night hosting duties to do a good job as Peter Rabbit while Rose Byrne is a passable Potter. It’s light-hearted fun and is a good, if modern, way to introduce children to Potter’s work. ★★★
Junior Bravo, 7.10pm Starring Danny DeVito Arnold Schwarzenegger. This follow-up to the hugely successful Twins again pairs Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito, this time as scientists who have invented a fertility drug. When they can’t get approval to test it, Arnie volunteers to have an embryo implant. Expect predictable jokes. ★★
The 5th Wave Three, 7.30pm Starring Chloe Grace Moretz, Nick Robinson. Sci-fi thriller based on the young adults’ novel of the same name. After four waves of alien attacks have virtually destroyed the planet, a teenage girl and her young brother desperately try to elude the invaders. This is generic and no Hunger Games, but it is watchable nonetheless. ★★★
Monster Hunter Sky Premiere, 8.30pm Starring Milla Jovovich, Tony Jaa, Ron Perlman. Video games that have been turned into movies are generally middling affairs, saddled with minimal storylines and maximum slaughter. Monster Hunter, based on the Capcom game series of the same name, is in that vein. It stars Milla Jovovich as a US Army Ranger whose team is attacked by Diablos, horned monsters from deep in the Earth’s crust. Luckily, she gets to call on Hunter, a mysterious warrior who is trained to kill such creatures. ★★
Ride Along
TVNZ 2, 8.35pm
Starring Kevin Hart, Ice Cube, Laurence Fishburne. It pulled in well over US$200 million at the box office and spawned two sequels, but this buddy cop comedy really only succeeds as a vehicle for comedian Kevin Hart and his high-energy wisecracking. ★★
The Green Mile
TVNZ 1, 8.45pm
Starring Tom Hanks, Michael Clarke Duncan. Multi-award-winning adaptation of the Stephen King novel about a compassionate team of wardens – headed by Tom Hanks – who work on a Louisiana prison death-row wing. Their routine is disrupted by the arrival of a huge inmate who may be able to perform miracles. ★★★★
Evan Almighty
TVNZ Duke, 10.10pm
Starring Steve Carell, Morgan Freeman. In this bland follow-up to the hit Bruce Almighty, Morgan Freeman as God instructs news anchorman turned Congressman Steve Carell to build an ark. The two leads do what they can with a weak script, but the producers were dreaming if they thought they could reproduce the success of the original with this sequel. ★★
Vanity Fair
TVNZ 1, 11.55pm
Starring Reese Witherspoon. Witherspoon just can’t seem to shake her golden-girl image as she portrays what is supposed to be an unlikeable character in this adaptation of the classic novel. ★★