Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle

Though final mountainous level is a bit flat, Jumanji plays by its own rules and thus carries the comedy through to the finish. Black’s thunderous diva pairs perfectly with nervous nebula and soft Rock, while Hart is loveable as always. Peppered with amusing wrestler references including extended analysis of Johnsons.

Kung Fu Panda 2

Worthy sequel to a brilliant film. Lacks emotional truth of a Pixar film, but still finds clever dialogue, incredible fight scene effects, and underused voice actors of first installment. Builds on first and leaves room for a third, in fact almost begs for a tri-doosh to contain this Black-built Panda.

Tropic Thunder

Stiller triumphantly directs brilliant send-up of movie-making process. Downey Jr. is black and Black is Farley, with Cruise and McConaughey delivering their first and best supporting roles. Plot necessitates some suspension of disbelief but makes doing so easy. Attacked, not for blackface, but for ‘retard’ discussion. They’re characters, you halfs!