GREATEST, THE - C

Pierce Brosnan, Susan Sarandon, Carey Mulligan
Carey Mulligan is as radiant as ever in this sad family drama as a dead boy’s pregnant girlfriend, but her character is woefully underwritten. She’s too much of a saint, with little time for her own grief over the situation since she is so busy being used as a device to help others.

MOVIE MATH: Ordinary People + Juno

TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE, THE - C+

Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner
Yes, Eclipse is the first entry in the Twilight series that may actually appeal to non-Twihards, but it still remains a decidedly underwhelming franchise. Despite a kick of actual plot, the meagre action takes a backseat to the increasingly gooey and tiresome love triangle at the story’s core.

MOVIE MATH: [Underworld + (Harry Potter x Let the Right One In)] x Pretty in Pink

RAMONA AND BEEZUS - C+

Joey King, Selena Gomez, John Corbett
A friendly and brightly coloured but often extremely bland synthesis of several stories in the Beverly Cleary catalogue. Leads Joey King and Selena Gomez establish a good sisterly rapport, but the story is so episodic, it feels like a bunch of family sitcom episodes jammed together.

MOVIE MATH: (Wizards of Waverly Place / Harry Potter) x Madeline

THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ALICE CREED, THE - B

Gemma Arterton, Martin Compston, Eddie Marsan
This is an intense, quickly paced and gripping three-person drama about the complications following the kidnapping of a wealthy heiress. Thanks to the committed performances and skilful, efficient staging, the film is able to overcome its occasionally exploitative tendencies.

MOVIE MATH: Sleuth + Tape + Gone Baby Gone / Mystic River

CHARLIE ST. CLOUD - C

Zac Efron, Amanda Crew, Donal Logue
Zac Efron has never been the most expressive actor – there always seems to be a spark missing in his eyes – which makes him the wrong choice for this mopey, dully scripted and uninspiring drama about a young man struggling to move on after the death of his kid brother.

MOVIE MATH: Remember Me x The Invisible + SQRT(17 Again)

SORCERER'S APPRENTICE, THE - B-

Nicolas Cage, Jay Baruchel, Alfred Molina
This big budget adaptation of the classic Mickey Mouse sequence from Fantasia may lack real magic, but it is still diverting studio-generated entertainment for a lazy evening at home, with the oftentimes laborious storyline offset by amusing banter between its two leads.

MOVIE MATH: Fantasia x (Harry Potter + National Treasure)

GROWN UPS - C-

Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock
Adam Sandler comedies are not usually known for their sophistication, but I’d be hard pressed to name one of his films as slapped together and empty as Grown Ups. The whole thing is strung together out of a series of juvenile insults and feels as if they just made it up as they went along.

MOVIE MATH: (Funny People + Paul Blart: Mall Cop + Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo + Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star) x Wild Hogs