Film reviews: Prince of Persia | Pimp | Cop Out

Published on Friday 14 May 2010 17:18

PRINCE OF PERSIA (12A)***

In a part of ancient Persia where everyone has English accents and villains thoughtfully mark themselves out by wearing eyeliner, Jake Gyllenhaal (sounding like Daniel Radcliffe) takes possession of a magic dagger from harem-panted princess Gemma Arterton (sounding like Princess Margaret). What follows is better acted than it needs to be, but Mike Newell's action adventure still feels more methodical than magical.

PIMP (18)**

Scottish actor Robert Cavanah makes his directorial debut with this low-budget indie covering seven days in the life of a pimp (also played by Cavanah). The narrative is reminiscent of Neil Jordan's Mona Lisa, but when combined with the mockney posturings of a Guy Ritchie crime flick, it doesn't quite come off. There's good support, though, from Billy Boyd and Martin Compston.

COP OUT (15)*

Bruce Willis and 30 Rock's Tracey Morgan team up for a cop buddy comedy that is supposed to homage the genre, but just reminds you how bored we were by the time Lethal Weapon 4 fired its blanks.

Mystifyingly, they got Dogma and Clerks' Kevin Smith to direct this instead of asking him to come up with a shrewder, funnier script – which is like hiring Simon Cowell to sing on The X Factor, instead of snarking behind the judge's desk. If you relish potty jokes and potty mouths, you might find Cop Out sufficiently arresting. If not, there's nothing to see here, move along.

All on general release from Friday