TRAINEE nurse Sam (Jodie Whittaker) is mugged on her way home by a gang of wayward lads. However, the assault is cut short by a meteor shower. When the youths investigate, they come face to snout with a creature from another world. The kids slay the beastie and drag it to a drug den run by Hi-Hatz and his layabout doorman, Ron (Nick Frost). A second downpour of meteors heralds more creatures and the lads gleefully grab weapons and leap onto bicycles and mopeds. Attack The Block is a riotous comedy boasting some energetic action sequences. The cast, mostly first-timers, have an appealing rawness and Frost and Luke Treadaway, as one of Ron’s posh punters, create a goofy double act. For every generous splash of blood or edge-of-seat shock there is a belly laugh to dissipate the tension.
lllllll
Glee – Season 2, Volume 2 (12)
THE award-winning teen musical comedy pays tribute to Lady Gaga in the final 12 episodes from the second series, which sees acid-tongued Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch) plotting and scheming to ensure that the glee club emerges victorious at Nationals. Kurt (Chris Colfer) helps diva Rachel (Lea Michele) resolve her feelings for quarterback Finn (Cory Monteith), April Rhodes (Kristin Chenoweth) tries to woo teacher Mr Schu (Matthew Morrison) back to Broadway and substitute teacher Holly Holliday (Gwyneth Paltrow) leads a sex education lesson the students will never forget.
A seven-disc DVD and Blu-ray box sets of the entire second series, and a 14-disc DVD box set of series one and two, are also available.
lllllll
Arthur (12)
ARTHUR BACH (Russell Brand) is heir to his family’s vast fortune, presided over by his mother, Vivienne (Geraldine James). She informs her son that he will marry corporate executive Susan Johnson (Jennifer Garner) or lose his inheritance. Arthur resigns himself to marital hell, only to run into tour guide and aspiring author Naomi (Greta Gerwig). Determined to marry for love, Arthur continues with preparations for the nuptials while secretly wooing Naomi, aided and abetted by his nanny Hobson (Helen Mirren). Arthur boasts some nice moments, most of them involving Mirren and Brand. However, in the current climate of global recession and austerity, it’s hard to care about a man with pockets deeper than his feelings and Brand doesn’t possess the innate vulnerability Dudley Moore, brought to the role in was so delightful in the Oscar-winning 1981 version. Mirren at least brings gravitas to her role and nabs many of the best lines.
llllll
