RUSSELL TOVEY - No.1297

Grabbers

By DENNIS HARVEY

A Bord Scannan Na Heireann/Irish Film Board and U.K. Film Council presentation of a Forward Films production in association with Samson Films and High Treason Prods. (International sales: The Salt Co., London.) Produced by Tracy Brimm, Kate Myers, Piers Tempest, Martina Niland. Executive producers, David Collins, Robert Bevan, Cyril Megret, Samantha Horley. Directed by Jon Wright. Screenplay, Kevin Lehane.With: Richard Coyle, Ruth Bradley, Russell Tovey, Lalor Roddy, David Pearse, Bronagh Gallagher, Pascal Scott.

Hungry alien visitors try to make a meal out of a quaint Irish coastal village in "Grabbers," a comedy creature thriller that is, like helmer Jon Wright's prior horror meller "Tormented," a polished, watchable genre entertainment that nonetheless lacks the inspired dialogue and situations needed to make a memorable impression. Home-format sales should cover most territories, but theatrical export will be spottier.

An apparent meteor's fall into the sea brings ill tidings for the residents of Erin Island, as it bears nasty critters -- resembling a cross between squid and Medusa's hair -- that require only blood and water to survive. They feast first on a fishing trawler's crew. Next morning, the shore is littered with beached, slashed whales, the first oddity to attract attention from local cop O'Shea (Richard Coyle) and imported Dublin one Nolan (Ruth Bradley). With O'Shea a bit too fond of the bottle, Nolan is filling as his superior while a sergeant is on vacation.

Soon they and marine biologist Smith (Russell Tovey) are in possession of a female specimen, not realizing that the ugly but smallish thingie has already laid eggs, and that a very large mate is coming to their rescue. The protags discover that alcohol is poison to the monsters, resulting in a simple village survival plan: Lure everyone to the pub with an open bar, and get them hammered. Hilarity should ensue, but the humour drummed up by Wright and scenarist Kevin Lehane is pretty tepid, middlebrow stuff; despite the idea's potential, this doesn't come within spurting distance of "Evil Aliens," "Shaun of the Dead," et al. in terms of U.K. gore-horror comedics. Character types are likewise routine, with the dynamic between the uptight-city-girl and raffish-country-lad leads particularly rote.

On the other hand, there have certainly been many clumsier and coarser stabs at the same mix. "Grabbers" moves swiftly enough, and the creature f/x are nicely done. Trevor Forrest's widescreen lensing of County Donegal scenery is a highlight in the pro package.

Camera (colour, HD, widescreen), Trevor Forrest; editor Matt Platts-Mills; music, Christian Henson; production designer, Tom McCullagh; art director, Brendan Rankin; set decorator, Shane Bunting; costume designer, Hazel Webb-Crozier; visual effects supervisor, Paddy Eason; creature effects, Shaune Harrison; sound (Dolby Digital), Daniel Birch; re-recording mixer, Dan Johnson; sound designer/supervising sound editor, Jeremy Price; assistant director, Andrew Hegarty; casting, Kelly Valentine, Victor Jenkins. Reviewed at Sundance Film Festival (Park City at Midnight), Jan. 25, 2012. Running time: 93 MIN.

Above: Luke T. Evans and Russell Tovey 2011 Los Angeles.

THE LADY KILLERS

Tom_In_Oz_: @James_Fleet how long do you think you will be killing ladies? Any idea yet??

James_Fleet: @Tom_In_Oz_ April 14^th 2012.

Tom_In_Oz_: @James_Fleet jeez that's a pretty good run in a period in time when the economy has been a little slow....must make you feel good x

CAIN IS ABLE

tommacwriter: Off for soho seediness with  @JamesEllis66  and  @leo_richardson  before crashing into @russelltovey  and  @MatthewCainC4 's dinner - love Friday!

russelltovey: Nightbus home. I loves me a nightbus x

JamesGrindrod: On a bus sitting opposite Russell Tovey.

SUSHI AND FAKE SIMONS

russelltovey: RT @CriTheatre: Our final storytellers are Him & Her's @russelltovey and @Solemani, reading Ovid's advice to lovers THE ART OF LOVE. http://t.co/liAiDrtt

FoxyLorri64: Hi @russelltovey they've tried to get that hoody in for you at J. Lewis here in Leic but to no avail,(sorry) SO I went in Debanams & BHS..

FoxyLorri64: Today with the same pic (lol)incase they had it,so both shops will try to get it! I'm on a mission here lol hope that's ok @russelltovey

russelltovey: @FoxyLorri64 you are amazing!! :-) x

FoxyLorri64: @russelltovey Oh,Thankyou.Yw..I hope I'm not being silly and trying to hard! lol I saw some similer hoodies on a Navajo clothes site

russelltovey: Follow @amstellnumbtour the real Simon Amstell... All the others a A* fakes! x

TMarkstahler: @russelltovey What if I won't follow @amstellnumbtour ???

russelltovey: Just discovered the best sushi bar in London... Hooray! X

TMarkstahler: @russelltovey Name? Address? C'mon you can't keep this to yourself!!!

russelltovey: Yoshino off piccadilly... Not cheap but boy its a good'n x

TMarkstahler: @russelltovey Thank you!!!

BoyVirginiaMade: @russelltovey I was there this past weekend. Tis great!

PSYCHIC WINNER

Tom_In_Oz_: @TMarkstahler @markmmerrett @demelza2 told Bubs you'd be stuck at work when I got up....now, what's that word I am searching for.....

TMarkstahler: @Tom_In_Oz_ @markmmerrett @demelza2 Lucky guess?

MarkMMerrett: @Tom_In_Oz_ @tmarkstahler @demelza2 smug lol

Tom_In_Oz_: @MarkMMerrett @tmarkstahler @demelza2 lucky smug guess hmmmm more than one word....I'm sure it's just one word....

MarkMMerrett: @Tom_In_Oz_ @tmarkstahler @demelza2 can't be psychic can it?

TMarkstahler: @Tom_In_Oz_ @markmmerrett @demelza2 The official one word version for "lucky smug guess" is lusmugu! That's the word!

HELPFUL ADVICE

BoyVirginiaMade: Any suggestion for what to do when being held hostage by a foreign country? Anyone?

Tom_In_Oz_: @BoyVirginiaMade relax lay back and think of England!

BoyVirginiaMade: @Tom_In_Oz_ I've never undetstood that phrase and I'm from America. Obama would get mad.

Tom_In_Oz_: @BoyVirginiaMade well it's what ladies were told to do back in the day...it's not entirely applicable in your case.....any phrase in a storm

BoyVirginiaMade: @Tom_In_Oz_ I think sleep will do me just fine...and tea.

Above: Russell Tovey 2011 on a trip to Los Angeles USA.

PSYCHIC FRIDAY 27-1-2012

Tom_In_Oz_: @TMarkstahler @markmmerrett Tommy my twin, I forgot to tell you about today's vision...Today coming home had a vision of a symbol like the one on this old coin 

I didn't see it on a coin though just the symbol of an eagle or bird like that...kept feeling like you were seeing it, or I was seeing it through your eyes...even felt like I was wearing your glasses...It was the strongest vision I have had for weeks and yep it all happened on Thomas Street!

TMarkstahler: @Tom_In_Oz_ @markmmerrett Do you know the 80s US soap "Falcon Crest", Tommy?

Tom_In_Oz_: @TMarkstahler @markmmerrett I know of the show but never watched it….

TMarkstahler: @Tom_In_Oz_ @markmmerrett I bought the DVD box yesterday. It has this crest on box. The picture I’ve sent is from the internet as I don't have the box with me. 

Tom_In_Oz_: @TMarkstahler @markmmerrett faints, stands up, faints again - OMG my twin - shivers down my backbone!! WHY do I see these things!....

TMarkstahler: @Tom_In_Oz_ @markmmerrett Because you're a psychic stalker.

Tom_In_Oz_: @TMarkstahler @markmmerrett what I kept feeling was that you had a really high level of interest and kept staring at the symbol...

TMarkstahler: @Tom_In_Oz_ @markmmerrett I loved the show and loved the crest for ages. I have a brass paper weight at home with the crest on it send pic later when I'm at home.

Tom_In_Oz_: @TMarkstahler @markmmerrett I never watched it but maybe now I am older I should...it was a really strong vision and I felt like that symbol was actually in front of my eyes

MarkMMerrett: @Tom_In_Oz_ @tmarkstahler some p have stary eyes, you get falcon eyes!

TMarkstahler: @Tom_In_Oz_ @markmmerrett Sounds intense! Only show I ever was a proper fan of as a teen. I'll send some photos tonight.

Tom_In_Oz_: @MarkMMerrett @TMarkstahler Mark did you read your timeline I had a little bit of a vision about you earlier too, not as strong as TM, but felt a cold face feeling earlier, like you were having chilly start to day

MarkMMerrett: @Tom_In_Oz_ @tmarkstahler all council houses in our area are cold and damp sadly they cost too much to fix and council don't allow much to be done, was very cold and I also slept with a fan on, need white noise to help me sleep

TMarkstahler: @MarkMMerrett @tom_in_oz_ Have to leave Twitter now! Tweet you later, little bro! No more visions for today, my twin. Sleep well, Tommy! Bye

Tom_In_Oz_: @TMarkstahler @MarkMMerrett just told my wife who got up from being asleep…she is amazed too and told me I shud be seeing somebody professional about my gift!!!

TMarkstahler: @Tom_In_Oz_ @markmmerrett Your wife told you to see a professional??? I won't comment on that!


LATER ON FRIDAY

TMarkstahler: @Tom_In_Oz_ @markmmerrett RE Falcon Crest vision: Here are the pictures - the DVD, the paper weight, prop bottles of wine. 

Tom_In_Oz_: @TMarkstahler @markmmerrett yep - that would be it!!!

TMarkstahler: @Tom_In_Oz_ @markmmerrett You have never watched it? It's pure 80s soap and really nice!

Tom_In_Oz_: @TMarkstahler @markmmerrett never watched it and it was pop in this household with wife and daughter!

PRODUCT PLACEMENT

russelltovey: Ok consumer wittys.. What's the best men's hair conditioner on the market?? X

donaldmc: @russelltovey take that back , Kiehls Argan or leave in cond with Panthenol & coconut oil

russelltovey: @donaldmc ooooooooohh x

Above: Russell Tovey with fan at London ComiCon.

Above: Russell Tovey 2012 shopping and sprung by fans in London.

Above: Russell Tovey 2011 BAFTAs London.

Above: Russell Tovey 2010 House of Voltaire with fans.


Stretching The Truth

russelltovey: RT @nikkibedi: Just read Sex With A Stranger in prep for interview with @russelltovey on @BBCRadio4's Loose Ends tomorrow.....it's deeply moving on paper.

guy_interruptd: @craigie_b  OH MY GOD! You just totally reminded me there are chocolate biscuits in the cupboard. I shall have them with my Horlicks :)

craigie_b: @guy_interruptd Dark-chocolate-hob-knob-tastic! Just remember - no crumbs. Sleep well boy

guy_interruptd: @craigie_b You're a bad man for totally making me do this. That's why I love you and want to tug on your ears.. :)

craigie_b: @guy_interruptd  which is coincidentally a secret technique that helps ease insomnia... Hope it worked!

guy_interruptd: @craigie_b  no. A virtual tug is not enough, it seems :(

craigie_b: @guy_interruptd  may help to have @russelltovey involved for the full effect?

russelltovey: @craigie_b I'm in! ;-) x