Larger Than Life

Mr Cynical Chops, Murray, certainly meets his match in this buddy pic with a difference. His Jack Corcoran, motivational guru on the conference circuit, puts his success down to losing his dad at an early age, so he's in for a shock when he discovers the old man has only just passed away, bequeathing his son a circus clown's red nose and Vera, a performing elephant. Countless comic opportunities present themselves as Murray and his new pal make their way across country to settle her future: will it be with kindly researcher Garofalo, who'll return the beast to the wild, or seductive trainer Linda Fiorentino, who'll put her in a Vegas show but pay big bucks up front? Well, you don't need second sight to figure that one out. We know the elephant will knock lots of things over, tricks will be performed at significant plot points, and Bill will turn into a big softie along the way. If there's not much room for manoeuvre, Murray in curmudgeon mode is as watchable as ever. We learn, of course, to be kind to animals, though whether this sits easily with the well-trained antics of the co-star is another matter. Disgracing itself only with McConaughey's over-extended bit as a psychotic trucker, the film delivers more or less comfortably on what you'd expect, then sits down for a rest.