Penguins of Madagascar (U)

three stars

Dirs: Simon J Smith, Eric Darnell

Voices: Benedict Cumberbatch, Ken Jeong

Runtime: 92 minutes

MAN, that Madagascar is a busy place. After invasion by the animals who like to move it, move it, comes a spin-off movie featuring an elite squad of penguins (well, in their minds they are) for whom no mission is too dangerous or deranged. This time, Skipper and his crew fall into the evil clutches of Dave the octopus (voiced by John Malkovich) and have to be rescued by a genuinely crack squad led by Benedict Cumberbatch??s Siberian husky. Bonkers, but fast and frenetic and there are some cute jokes along the way.

INTERVIEW, PAGE ??

The Grandmaster (15)

three stars

Dir: Wong Kar-wai

With: Tony Leung, Cung Le

Runtime: 108 minutes

MANY of a certain age will be familiar with the Bruce Lee story, but the early life and times of Ip Man, the man who trained the martial arts movie star, are less well known. Wong Kar-wai (In the Mood for Love, Days of Being Wild) puts that right with this stylishly executed piece with long-time collaborator Tony Leung in the lead role. A blend of history, politics, and biography, it can be ponderous at times, but when the fighting begins, wow.

Get Santa (U)

three stars

Dir: Christopher Smith

With: Rafe Spall, Stephen Graham

Runtime: 102 minutes

THERE is something nicely retro about Christopher Smith??s family comedy. Though set in thoroughly modern Britain, it has a streak of old fashioned cheekiness about it. Dad (Rafe Spall) is just out of the nick and keen to connect with his young son. When the boy asks him to help a stranded Santa (Jim Broadbent) and save Christmas for the world, what is a father to do? Broadbent and Spall lead a quality homegrown cast that also includes Ewan Bremner and Stephen Graham, the latter of which has to teach a banged-up Santa to be a hard man. Plenty of slapstick for youngsters, with some tasty, Porridge-style humour for adults along the way.

Me, Myself and Mum (15)

three stars

Dir: Guillaume Gallienne

With: Guillaume Gallienne, Andre Macon

Runtime: 87 minutes

THE me and myself of the title is Guillaume, whom everyone, his mother especially, thinks is gay. But as writer-director Guillaume Gallienne makes plain in this French comedy, life is much more complex than simple labels allow. Playing himself, and his mother, Gallienne looks back to his childhood and how he struggled to live up to other people??s notions while trying to find his own identity. A gentle comedy with a lot of wisdom at its heart.

Men, Women & Children (15)

three stars

Dir: Jason Reitman

With: Ansel Elgort, Adam Sandler

Runtime: 120 minutes

JASON Reitman (Up in the Air, Juno) crafts an ensemble comedy-drama pegged to the internet travails of several modern American families. In one home, dad is using porn, in another, a mother is obsessed with tracking her daughter??s every keystroke. Adapted from the novel by Chad Kultgen, Reitman??s picture boasts Adam Sandler in serious mode (excellent) and an equally impressive young cast that includes Ansel Elgort (The Fault in Our Stars). The stories are hit and miss, and some of the conclusions blindingly obvious, but now and again the observations make a mark.

St Vincent (12A)

two stars

Dir: Theodore Melfi

With: Bill Murray, Melissa McCarthy

Runtime: 102 minutes

BILL Murray stars as a grouchy old neighbour who finds himself babysitting the kid next door for some desperately needed cash. Between Murray, Melissa McCarthy (Bridesmaids) as the neighbour and Naomi Watts playing a Russian, pregnant pole dancing stripper (really), Theodore Melfi??s Brooklyn-set comedy looks promising on paper. In reality, it is a bittersweet piece with all the sweet stuff left out. What is left is a determinedly downbeat, relentlessly depressing picture where the only light relief comes in the form of Chris O??Dowd as the boy??s teacher. A downer.