What's new in Odeon's this week - Thursday 11th December 2014.

After last weeks mega haul of new releases, comes a more limited offering of just three new films to satisfy our hunger for new exciting cinema content. With the start of Summer in Australia taking on a decidedly tropical feel in Sydney with hot spells interspersed with all to predictable torrential downfalls, cold snaps and high humidity, you can rest assured that solace and relief can easily be found at your local picture house.

To tempt us therefore we have a cuddly retelling of an all too familiar furry friend with a penchant for marmalade and mayhem; we have a French foreign language film about an empty nest couple battling the hum-drum life in Normandy when an invitation to Paris reveals more adventure than bargained for; and finally a Hollywood comedic sequel about corporate life, managers you would rather do without and what happens when you try to go it alone against the big boys!

And so family, foreign and farcical is what we have on offer this week, and when you've seen your chosen film drop me a line at Odeon Online in the Comments Box at the end of this Post, or an one for that matter, and share your own Review with our growing and valued readership at Odeon Online. Enjoy your film!

PADDINGTON (Rated G) - now at 56 years of age it's probably about time that Paddington Bear got the big screen makeover, since being released on an unsuspecting world in 1958 thanks to Author and story teller Michael Bond. With over 30 million books sold, three different television series, and even a stage show under his trademark blue duffle coat, Paddington Bear, having arrived from Peru now gets the big screen treatment, and from what I have researched he can be very proud. Directed by Paul King, this live action film stars a CGI Paddington Bear that is beautifully rendered in his slightly more bear-like appearance than you may recall, and voiced by Ben Whishaw, with some big names adding gravitas to the cast list.

Lured by images of Britain, Paddington Bear arrives in London - the city of his dreams, only to discover quickly that perhaps it is not all that he had imagined. With a tag around his neck proclaiming 'Please look after this Bear. Thank-you' he is taken in by the kindly Brown family (Hugh Bonneville as Mr., Sally Hawkins as Mrs., and Madeline Harris as daughter Judy, and Samuel Joslin as son Jonathan) who offer him somewhere to stay temporarily. Because the Brown's found him at London's Paddington Station, they call him 'Paddington' and so a story begins that gets Paddington into all sorts of comedic situations, pratfalls, danger and needless to say mayhem. Things are going relatively well for Paddington until he is discovered by museum taxidermist Millicent (a sinister Nicole Kidman, channelling Cruella DeVille maybe) and from there the chase is on from those who want to stuff him and put him on display; those he has ostracised so far; and those who are not quite what they seem. Starring the voice talents too of Michael Gambon and Imelda Staunton (as Paddington's Peruvian Aunt & Uncle), and Peter Capaldi, Jim Broadbent, Julie Walters, Matt Lucas and Geoffrey Palmer this looks as though it is sure to please children . . . of all ages!

HORRIBLE BOSSES 2 (Rated MA15+) - you would have to ask yourself why, oh why, roll out another one of these that is sure to go the same way as 'The Hangover' 2, and 3 for that matter, but, having made US$210M off a US$35M budget in its first instalment, this sequel is hardly surprising.  This time with a US$42M budget we have the same bunch of corporate middle managers who all hate their boss and decide to go it alone with their own company and their own new to market invention - a soap dispensing shower head called 'The Soap Buddy'. When it goes belly up for them at the hands of a double-crossing investor they take the law into their own hands and misguided misadventure and mishaps are soon to follow! Starring Jason Bateman, Jason Sudekis, Charlie Day, Chris Pine, Christophe Waltz, Jamie Foxx, Kevin Spacey and Jennifer Aniston and Directed by Sean Anders, this has big ticket names assigned to it, but is it enough to clean up . . . even with The Soap Buddy?

FOLIES BERGERE (Rated M) - Directed by Marc Fitoussi this French language subtitled film tells the story of Brigitte (Isabelle Huppert) and Xavier (Jean-Pierre Darroussin) - a husband and wife team cattle farming in rural Normandy. They are empty nesters whose children are grown and have moved on from the family home. Normalcy, routine and predictability have set in to their lives, and so when Brigitte accepts an invitation to a party in Paris with friends she accepts, only to find a younger suitor in tow, Stan (Pio Marmai) and then later a charming older gentleman Jesper (Michael Nyquist) also showing interest. Wanting more from life Brigitte gets more than she bargained for as things don't go quite according to plan.

Three to choose from, something for everyone, and if you can't find something that grabs you this week, check out all the other great movies still showing at your local picture house as Previewed/Reviewed at Odeon Online previously. Enjoy your film(s) and let the world know what you think . . . right here in the Comments Box below!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-