Comedy Reviews and Features | Little White Lies

Genre Comedy

Two blue animated characters with white hats, one with long blonde hair, standing on rocky ground with dappled sunlight.
Review

Smurfs review – a drab exercise in IP filler material

by David Jenkins

Another animated incarnation of Peyo’s beloved, blue Belgian beauties; unfortunately Chris Miller’s film absolutely sucks.

2
Anticipation
1
Enjoyment
1
In Retrospect
Two men in conversation outdoors, one in beige puffer jacket holding white cup with red straw, other in red and blue jacket eating.
Review

Friendship review – the Wario to I Love You Man's Mario

by Hannah Strong

Tim Robinson attempts to befriend Paul Rudd in Andrew DeYoung’s offbeat comedy.

5
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Man in light blue shirt and woman with curly red hair in dark top having conversation in front of bookshelf filled with books.
Review

The Other Way Around review – a new type of break-up movie

by David Jenkins

Jonás Trueba’s wry and articulate neo-screwball relationship comedy sees a couple organising a party for their impending break-up.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Two people sitting on a railing, a man in a suit and a woman in overalls holding a container.
Review

Chicken Town review – how do you make a granddad selling weed boring?

by Thomas Boyd

Two schoolfriends join forces with an old man who accidentally started growing weed on his allotment in Richard Bracewell’s painfully unfunny comedy.

3
Anticipation
2
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect
Two people, a man and a woman, standing on a beach with grassy hills in the background. The man is wearing a colourful graphic T-shirt and a teal cardigan, while the woman is wearing a patterned, multi-coloured coat.
Review

The Ballad Of Wallis Island review – relishes in daft physical comedy

by Katherine McLaughlin

Comedian collaborators Tim Key and Tom Basden co-write and co-star in James Griffiths’ pleasant bromance flick.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
A man in a suit and a woman in a nun's habit stand in front of a damaged trailer in a forest setting.
Review

The Phoenician Scheme review – an absolute gas

by David Jenkins

A charming arms dealer heads on the road to redemption in this pristine shot of pure pleasure from filmmaker Wes Anderson.

5
Anticipation
5
Enjoyment
5
In Retrospect
A young woman in a yellow top stands close to a large brown and white horse against a backdrop of green foliage.
Review

Magic Farm review – Amalia Ulman has plenty up her sleeve

by Emily Maskell

Amalia Ulman flexes her satirical writing chops, but her latest would have benefitted from more Chloë Sevigny and Simon Rex.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Group of young people dancing in a nightclub, under colourful purple lighting.
Review

The Wedding Banquet review – an unexpected delight

by Laura Venning

Anchored by a talented cast clearly having the time of their lives, Andrew Ahn’s new banquet is a bit of a treat.

2
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
A person with facial piercings and dreadlocks, wearing a dark cloak, obscuring their face in shadows.
Review

The Ugly Stepsister review – a mean-spirited Cinderella story

by Hannah Strong

Emilie Blichfeldt takes on medieval beauty standards in this gory reframing of the Brothers Grimm’s classic take on Cinderella.

4
Anticipation
2
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect
Three young men riding on a red tractor in a rural, green landscape.
Review

Holy Cow review – a bittersweet treat

by Alex Hopkins-McQuillan

Louise Courvoisier crafts a moving tale about cheese-making and coming of age, set in the rural French region of Jura.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Four people standing outdoors near a building with red roofs and decorative architectural elements.
Review

Death of a Unicorn review – goodbye horses, good riddance

by Billie Walker

Alex Scharfman rallies together a cast stacked with comedic actors, but the result of this dull ​‘Eat the Rich’ flick misses the mark.

2
Anticipation
2
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect
Family gathered around digital tablet, looking contemplative.
Review

Four Mothers review – canny crowd-pleaser

by Mike McCahill

Darren Thornton’s remake of Mid-August Lunch sees a novelist on the brink of breaking out tasked with caring for his ailing mother and her friends.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect