Film reviews: Gambit | The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 | Headwinds| Nativity 2: Danger In The Manger!

A round up of other new releases.
By The Newsroom
Published 25th Nov 2012, 15:39 BST

Gambit (12A)

* * *

Colin Firth, Sir Tom Courtenay and Cameron 
Diaz join forces to con Alan Rickman into buying their fake Manet, with reasonably farcical consequences. Based on a script by the Coen Brothers, the film is aiming for the breeziness of The Pink Panther or Charade, but more often than not Gambit’s fart jokes, racial stereotypes and frequent nose punches are silly rather than funny. Occasionally, however, the film finds its groove, and some decent laughs, with Firth.

On general release from Wednesday

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 (12A)

* * *

Having kissed abstinence and mortality goodbye in the last movie, new mother and vampire Bella Cullen (Kristin Stewart) finally shrugs off her human bloodlessness and bares her fangs. Which is just as well, because both Michael Sheen and Bella’s werewolf chum (Taylor Lautner) seem to have (very different) designs on her baby. Bloodier, funnier and even more ridiculous, but the final chapter of this saga is better paced than the Potterthon.

On general release

Headwinds (15)

* *

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Audrey Tautou makes a brief appearance in this French film as a woman who disappears, leaving her husband (Benoît Magimel) and two small children to grieve. He gets a job in a small seaside town and starts to find a new life. Actual headwinds are definitely more bracing.

Glasgow Film Theatre, tomorrow

Nativity 2: Danger In The Manger! (U)

* *

Debbie Isitt’s over-cutesy comedy sequel seems built to give supporters of King Herod a boost. David Tennant is a new teacher shepherding his class of tots to a singing competition, abetted by classroom assistant Mr Poppy (Marc Wootton). The kids have their moments, Tennant is game but Wootton’s puppy-dog persona is just about ready to be put down.

On general release from Friday

SIOBHAN SYNNOT