Betty Thomas directs Shelley Long, Gary Cole and Jennifer Elise Cox in this remake of the Seventies sitcom transplanting the out-of-time family to the grungy Nineties.

The deadpan, straight faced fish-out-of-water timewarp joke works for about ten minutes. Luckily, middle sister Jan’s anguished internal monologue just about saves the day for the rest of the feature length.

4

Perfect Double Bill: A Very Brady Sequel (1996)

My wife and I do a podcast together called The Worst Movies We Own. It is available on Spotify or here https://letterboxd.com/bobbycarroll/list/the-worst-movies-we-own-podcast-ranking-and/

Ali Abbasi directs Mehdi Bajestani, Zar Amir Ebrahimi and Arash Ashtiani in this serial killer drama where a female journalist in Iran faces sexism and cover-up in her search for a murderer of sex workers.

Based on a true story. Well crafted and pointed in it gender inequalities. Every female character is constantly at risk of violence in this society, the brutal sex murders are pretty much sanctioned by the authorities. Zero glamorisation – all are bruised, tired, unkempt. There’s a surprising amount of focus on the dull, devout killer and his home life. It makes for grim, depressing viewing and I wouldn’t rush to rewatch despite Holy Spider’s enthralling power.

6

Perfect Double Bill: A Hero (2021)

I write regular features about live comedy for British Comedy Guide here https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/bobby_carroll/features/

Dominik Moll directs Denis Ménochet, Laure Calamy and Damien Bonnard in this French thriller following various mysteries that orbit the case of a missing woman.

Five short crime stories about obsessive, unrequited love that tessellate neatly into each other. Plenty of sex. Keeps you guessing long past the biggest reveal.

7

Perfect Double Bill: Harry, He’s Here To Help (2000)

My wife and I do a podcast together called The Worst Movies We Own. It is available on Spotify or here https://letterboxd.com/bobbycarroll/list/the-worst-movies-we-own-podcast-ranking-and/

Bruce Robinson directs Richard E Grant, Rachel Ward and Richard Wilson in this body horror comedy where an advertising exec begins to grow a nasty protrusion when he cannot nail a decent idea for a pimple cream.

Robinson & Grant’s lesser known follow-up to Withnail & I is a lot of scabrous fun. Not perfect cinema… it essentially is a series of monologues with nowhere to go after it plays its big body horror reveal at the midway point. But Grant is incredible in it. Jim Carrey called this one of the greatest comedy performances on film and he isn’t wrong. Unhinged, persuasive and note perfect.

8

Perfect Double Bill: Withnail & I (1987)

I write regular features about live comedy for British Comedy Guide here https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/bobby_carroll/features/

Pedro Almodóvar directs Penélope Cruz, Milena Smit and Rossy de Palma in this Spanish melodrama where two very different mothers give birth at the same time and find their lives entangled.

Easily now my favourite Almodóvar. Less shrill but just as camp, colourful and sexy. The weaving soap opera story is quite emotionally granular and it has a wider political significance in a pregnant subplot about a mass grave that bookends the drama. The past cannot stay buried, some have benefited from the sins of Spanish forefathers, lies will eventually be dug up, it is the only way to move forward. Cruz is again wonderful here in a really meaty role that plays to all her strengths.

8

Perfect Double Bill: Volver (2006)

My wife and I do a podcast together called The Worst Movies We Own. It is available on Spotify or here https://letterboxd.com/bobbycarroll/list/the-worst-movies-we-own-podcast-ranking-and/

David Gordon Green directs Nicolas Cage, Tye Sheridan and Gary Poulter in this drama where a self-destructive ex-con who runs a tree poisoning crew takes on a young drifter.

Set in the backwoods of Texas and with an eye for the outrageous, Joe plays out like a serious spin-off from one of Joe R Lansdale’s caper novels. It has a clear plot – Cage’s Joe see himself in the teen who he begins to become a surrogate father to – but this is a movie that takes pleasure colouring outside the line of that particular narrative. We get whorehouse dog vendettas, car chases, incest and exploitation. The finest moments are when Green lets his camera run and just permits an improvising Cage to chat and charm the locals in his own unique manner. There’s enough excitement here to sate sophisticated action hounds, atmosphere to catch the eye of critics and authentic soul to call back to the character studies of New American Cinema.

8

Perfect Double Bill: Dog Eat Dog (2016)

I write regular features about live comedy for British Comedy Guide here https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/bobby_carroll/features/

Khyentse Norbu directs Orgyen Tobgyal, Jamyang Lodro and Lama Chonjor in this Tibetan language movie about some young refugee monks desperate to watch the World Cup on telly.

Second time watching this sweet little movie. It is a real charmer. I’m a big fan of foreign films that are mini-quests. This one hits all the correct notes. And I’m not even a football guy…

7

Perfect Double Bill: The Other Final (2003)

My wife and I do a podcast together called The Worst Movies We Own. It is available on Spotify or here https://letterboxd.com/bobbycarroll/list/the-worst-movies-we-own-podcast-ranking-and/

Dean Craig directs Toni Collette, Anna Faris and Kathleen Turner in this farce comedy about two sisters who try to get back in the good graces of their estranged aunt before she passes to inherit some of her fortune.

Solid premise, absolutely stacked cast, foul mouthed dialogue. Why doesn’t this work? It is just listless and feels like someone tried to write a Kevin Smith script with none of the heart or personality. Tone deaf, dated. An utter waste of the ensemble in front of the camera.

3

Perfect Double Bill: Overboard (2018)

I write regular features about live comedy for British Comedy Guide here https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/bobby_carroll/features/

Art Stevens, Ted Berman and Richard Rich direct Mickey Rooney, Kurt Russell and Pearl Bailey in this Walt Disney animated classic about a hunting dog and domesticated fox who become childhood friends.

I’m almost certain this was the first Disney cartoon I saw in its entirety. It is a pretty wet affair with no noticeable concessions for adults and little wonder to its animation or songs.

4

Perfect Double Bill: Bambi (1942)

My wife and I do a podcast together called The Worst Movies We Own. It is available on Spotify or here https://letterboxd.com/bobbycarroll/list/the-worst-movies-we-own-podcast-ranking-and/

Claude Chabrol directs Isabelle Huppert, Sandrine Bonnaire and Jacqueline Bisset in this French thriller where a maid starts an intense friendship with the local post office mistress, a person whom her employers object to.

Dorky haircuts. Lonely women acting like rebellious teens. Eat the rich. This chiller based on a Ruth Rendell novel is slow burn. The outcome feels inevitable. Yet Chabrol’s non-judgmental approach to the material means you might side more with the eventual killers than the ostensible victims. Huppert is never less than enthralling.

7

Perfect Double Bill: Heavenly Creatures (1994)

I write regular features about live comedy for British Comedy Guide here https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/bobby_carroll/features/