Film: Alan Partridge – Alpha Papa
Chat show host-turned-radio DJ Alan Partridge hits the big screen in this raucous hostage drama marrying the character’s petty charm with film’s cinematic demands.
Partridge, host of Mid Morning Matters on North Norfolk Digital, becomes the inadvertent negotiator when fellow DJ, Pat Farrell (Colm Meaney), irked when he’s ousted by new station owners, brandishes a shotgun and takes everyone in the station hostage. Partridge’s popularity skyrockets as the media descend, and he’s not about to miss a trick to promote his own career.
Starring: Steve Coogan, Colm Meaney | 15 | 90mins | Out Aug 7
Film: Grown Ups 2
Adam Sandler continues to show that critical mauling means nothing – he picked up a record number of Razzies last year for Jack And Jill (with Grown Ups 2 helmer and longtime collaborator director Dennis Dugan), but is now back with a sequel to his less-than-brill 2011 comedy about childhood friends reconvening to reminisce with a total lack of maturity. For Sandler diehards.
Starring: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock | 12A | 102mins | on general release Aug 9
Film: The Lone Ranger
Johnny Depp continues to confound conventions by showing that being in a Jerry Bruckheimer mega-blockbuster can still be cool. This new adaptation of the Lone Ranger tale (with Armie Hammer) is Depp strictly in Pirates Disney family mode, with his masked law enforcer’s trusty crime-fighting sidekick Tonto. The setpieces will be huge, the subtlety absent.
On general release from Aug 9
Theatre: The Colour Purple – The Musical
Of necessity, this musical version of Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel, set in rural Thirties Georgia, strips out several characters and crucial events are dealt with perfunctorily. But its heart is in the right place and it has a feel-good atmosphere from the start without ignoring the book’s distressing aspects. Recommended. LK
Menier Chocolate Factory SE1 1RU.
Until Sep 14. £27.50+
Tube | London Bridge
menierchocolatefactory.com
Theatre: A Season in the Congo
Film director Joe Wright’s richly staged production – about the first democratically elected prime minister of the Republic of the Congo in 1960 and the coup that deposed him – is fragmented, with almost too much going on. But it is held together by a charismatic central performance from Chiwetel Ejiofor. LK
Young Vic The Cut, SE1 8LZ.
Until Aug 24. £10+
Tube | Southwark
youngvic.org
Comedy: Phoenix Fringe Comedy Festival
Love comedy but can’t make it to the Edinburgh Fringe this year? Fear not, Tiffany Stevenson (above) and chums have this London comedy fest, with – deep breath – Joel Dommett, Alan Davies, Paul Sinha, Isy Suttie, Katherine Ryan, Mark Watson, Rob Ince and more. One venue, eight days, 34 shows – what more could you want?
The Phoenix
Cavendish Square, W1G 0PP.
Until Aug 11. £10+
Tube | Oxford Circus
phoenixfringe.co.uk
Exhibition: Hahn / Cock – Katharina Fritsch
There were many who criticised the choice for the Trafalgar Square Fourth Plinth’s latest art work, but plenty think that this giant blue cock, or Hahn/ Cock to give its proper name, is pretty damn wonderful. A giant brightly coloured moment of humour amidst the grey soldier men on this iconic landmark’s other podiums.
Fourth Plinth
Trafalgar Square, WC1N 5DS
Tube | Charing Cross
london.gov.uk/fourthplinth
Photos: Joe Gascoigne; Nobby Clark
