Review of Burke & Hare (2010) by Johnny T — 26 Feb 2012

The new Burke & Hare offers many pleasures, chief among them the return of the Landis of old. Those who care less about such stuff than about being entertained will find plenty to like in this ghoulish comedy, a droll take on one of the most notorious mass-murder cases of the 19th century. All of the actors are enjoying themselves, and the movie is stuffed with history, atmosphere and vivid characters. What's in short supply, though, is laughter. The film struggles to match the original Ealing's quality benchmark, and its unapologetically old-fashioned sensibility may have trouble connecting with contempo audiences. The real-life history has been twisted into a romantic black comedy here, the facts altered as necessary. And the film is practically bursting at the seams with remarkable across-the-pond talent and typically quirky cameos. And the gore is suitably grisly. If it's altogether more cozy than "American Werewolf," its ultimately upbeat charm is nevertheless pretty pleasingly fractured.

VERDICT: "In The Zone" - [Mixed Reaction] These kinds of movies are usually movies that had some good things, but some bad things kept it from being amazing. This rating says buy an ex-rental or a cheap price of the DVD to own. If you consider cinema, ask for people's opinion on the film. (Films that are rated 2.5 or 3 stars).