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Film reviews

Men In Black 3

It’s not a sequel that needed to be made, but thanks to the charm of its leads and a tone that harks back to the wit and humour of the original, it’s a pretty enjoyable trip.

Bel Ami

The excellent female support cast saves this patchy effort, which is let down by its leading man and a flat screenplay.

The Dictator

A disappointing, often repulsive and mean-spirited mess of a film with seemingly only one real criterion on its agenda: to shock and offend.

The Woman In Black

Packed with atmosphere, this old-fashioned but deftly told ghost story delivers ample chills and thrills.

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Chalet Girl (Film)

by Belinda Hazleton | August 29, 2011 15:01 | Edited August 29, 2011 15:01

Sure, it’s predictable, implausible and clearly skewed toward a young female demographic, but it’s also enjoyable escapist fun.

This formulaic flick has some merit, thanks to its engaging young cast, gentle humour, and impressive cinematography of the Austrian Alps. There are no surprises in the plot, and the whole premise is quite implausible, but for escapist fun filled with much frolicking in the snow, it's an easy way to pass 97 minutes!

 

Nineteen-year-old Kim (Felicity Jones) is a skilled skateboarder felled by a personal tragedy that has effectively ended her run of competition successes. In an effort to earn money to help support her father, she takes a housekeeping position in a wealthy English family's Austrian ski chalet. This privileged world is eons away from anything that Kim has ever known, and initially she feels unwelcome and completely out of place. When the opportunity arises for her to spend some time on the slopes, however, Kim realises that her skateboarding skills can be put to good use here, on a snowboard. With a major competition looming, this could be not only her chance to win serious prize money and escape her humdrum life, but also an opportunity to come to terms with the past.

 

Director Phil Traill (All About Steve) has assembled an energetic cast for his second feature. He hasn't tried to do anything apart from produce a likeable, accessible rom-com, aimed predominantly at a younger, female audience. The film is well paced, and moves quickly over its many improbabilities. The Alpine scenery is glorious, and it makes you want to book a holiday in the snow immediately! It's also pleasing to note that the story isn't only about Kim finding her Prince Charming; in line with the upped female empowerment quotient in most modern rom-coms, she also manages to confront her fears and take on a massive challenge.