Harold and the Purple Crayon review – garish and charmless kids fantasy dud
Zachary Levi makes for a miscast lead in a poorly thought- out adaptation of Crockett Johnson’s classic picture book
November 2023
Elf review – Will Ferrell is still Santa’s biggest helper in Christmas comedy favourite
Elf at 20: Will Ferrell ensures that this remains a Christmas staple
July 2022
The reader interview
Zooey Deschanel: ‘Manic pixie dream girl? I’m not a girl. I’m a woman’
The reader interview
Post your questions for Zooey Deschanel
March 2022
Rock’n’role: a dizzying number of actors want to be pop stars, but which ones are worth listening to?
Downton Abbey co-stars Michelle Dockery and Michael Fox have announced their debut EP. With so many film and TV stars trying their hands at pop, our music critic rates actors’ past efforts
June 2021
The Celebrity Dating Game: haven’t we suffered enough already?
An ill-advised reboot of the 60s show features a confused Zooey Deschanel and a bizarre Michael Bolton hosting with hard-to-recognise celebs looking for love
March 2021
Hear me out
Hear me out: why The Happening isn't a bad movie
The latest in our series of writers defending hated films is a plea to reconsider M Night Shyamalan’s human v nature thriller
February 2021
Hear me out
Hear me out: why Your Highness isn't a bad movie
The latest in our series of writers defending loathed films is a plea to reconsider David Gordon Green’s foul-mouthed fantasy adventure
September 2020
Almost Famous at 20: Cameron Crowe's warm-hearted ode to music journalism
The writer-director’s semi-autobiographical comedy remains a generous and insightful film about growing up on the road
March 2020
Stream team
New Girl: screwball comedy gets funnier and smarter – and is best when binged
Dismissed upon its debut, the zany Zooey Deschanel sitcom eventually became sharper and more self-aware – and has surprising staying power
November 2019
The attachment secret: are you a secure, avoidant or anxious partner?
It’s difficult to find lasting love, but by recognising your attachment type you can be more conscious in your relationships and stop self-sabotaging
January 2017
What Lena Dunham and Girls owe to the Mary Tyler Moore show
Many modern stars were inspired by TV’s single career woman who died last week
October 2016
Trolls review – multicoloured collectables overcome in children's sleepover fare
Perky troll Poppy enlists the help of misery Branch to help her find tufty-haired happy in a glaringly bright kids’ cartoon with songs
November 2015
Getting on: how the Manic Pixie Dream Grans conquered Hollywood
Lily Tomlin’s fierce lesbian poet, Blythe Danner’s spunky widow, Sally Field’s kooky nan ... Move over Zooey Deschanel, granny wants a piece of the action
September 2015
Mindy Kaling: ‘Those moments when you feel an idiot – they’re good to write about’
The star of The Office and The Mindy Project talks about failure, why now is a great time for ‘chipper’ comedy – and being the only woman of colour in the room
January 2015
From movie star to musician: the best and worst Hollywood crooners
Johnny Depp says actors who turn their attentions to the music industry are sickening. But has he struck a false note? Here’s a list to help you decide
November 2014
Music blog
Top six actor-turned-musician breeds
Guy Pearce is not the first Hollywood A-lister to come out of the musical closet. Here are the six main categories actors with musical urges fall into
July 2014
Pass notes
Manic Pixie Dream Girls: why their inventor is apologising
