New Year’s Eve (DVD)

Starring: Michelle Pfeiffer, Zac Efron, Sofia Vergara, Robert De Niro, Halle Berry
Director: Garry Marshall
Running Time: 113 mins
Certificate: 12
Release Date: December 3rd 2012

New Year’s Eve gives us a look into the way in which we all cross over into each other’s lives on a daily basis without even knowing it, amongst a combination of romance, heartache, laughter and sadness.

With an all-star ensemble cast the audience gets to enjoy the many different plots, in what reminded me of films such as Love Actually. The film is generally good and moves at a steady pace so the audience won’t get bored as they keep zigzagging through the multiple stories, some of which are much better than others.

The story involving Michelle Pfeiffer and Zac Efron is one of the more touching, and we get see Michelle looking very dowdy, something I thought I’d never say as she gets Efron to try and fulfil her New Year wishes. Also, the interlinking story of Halle Berry nurse and Robert De Niro’s dying patient is enough to bring a tear to anyone’s eye.

Modern Family star Sofia Vergara has to get a special mention for her laugh out loud one-liners and superb comedic acting; she truly steals the show from everyone else. The same however cannot be said for Abigail Breslin who, aside from looking completely unrecognisable, will make you thing it’s baffling that she was once nominated for an Academy Award, as her performance is a little wooden and unbelievable.

The one negative aspect of the film has to be the fact that in two hours some of the stories don’t get as much time as others, therefore making you either forget about them or not care too much. A few are so perfunctory they’re barely stories at all.

Aside from that the film is very enjoyable, taking us on an emotional rollercoaster of happiness and sadness. There are quite a few points when you will hear yourself go “aww” or wipe a tear from your eye.

Overall Verdict: New Year’s Eve is surprisingly enjoyable, light-hearted and quite sweet at its core. It’s just a shame some stories couldn’t have been padded out more, but overall very good.

Reviewer: Lewis Shepherd