Max Payne is a bitter detective who has been put out to pasture with a desk job after his wife and child were brutally murdered. He spends his free time scouring the seedy underbelly of New York trying to find the man responsible. He finally gets a break on the case following a suspected drug related murder but suspicion falls on Max. Things get even worse when his ex-partner is brutally killed and he has to evade the police while he tries to find the real killers.

The movie industry seems to be suffering from a lack of imagination and, not content with sequels and remakes, they've been increasingly raiding the world of videogames in search of titles that can spawn a film version. The problem is that most videogames are cliché ridden and feature plots and characters that were inspired by classic movies in the first place. Max Payne is no exception. The game was released back in 2001 and featured plenty of slow motion shooting action. You'd be forgiven for expecting the film to be a high octane action flick but in actual fact it takes a long time to really heat up.

The convoluted background is painstakingly explained and a host of characters are stirred into the mix but truthfully the story is less than engaging. When the action does finally kick in there are some nicely directed moments and the slow motion sequences definitely conjure memories of the game but the predictable blood soaked finale doesn't make up for the boring exposition that preceded it.

Mark Wahlberg is a good choice for the constipated looking, monosyllabic Max and he scowls his way through the film effortlessly. The rest of the cast were passable but while it may be pleasing for fans of the game that the plot and characters were familiar the lack of action can hardly fail to disappoint. Visually the film captures the same grimy mood as the source material with washed out colours and a bleak and dirty New York backdrop. Director John Moore gives the film a noir feel and his splashes of fire and colour amidst the swirling snow along with the drug induced demon and angel hallucinations were visually hypnotic. However he brings little in the way of depth to the film and struggles to break out of action formula conventions.

Max Payne is style over substance and it comes as no surprise that the film fails to engage emotionally or challenge the audience. What is less forgivable is the lack of violent action and the slow lumbering pace was an unwelcome surprise. The original videogame sold millions of copies and spawned a sequel, it's doubtful that the movie will achieve the same level of success.

Ghost Town is a romantic comedy about a dentist called Bertram Pincus who dies during a routine colonoscopy only to be miraculously revived seven minutes later. When he wakes up he finds he can now see ghosts and they all want him to do them a favour. The most desperate of the bunch is Frank Herlihy who was recently flattened by a bus and he pressgangs Bertram into approaching his widow, Gwen, something he soon regrets as Bertram and Gwen get on a little too well.

Ricky Gervais stars as Bertram; he is a British comedian who found fame after writing and starring in the UK version of The Office. While The Office was remade for US audiences Gervais went on to write and star in another successful television series called Extras. Now intent on spreading his fame he has been looking to break into the movies and after bit parts in films like Night at the Museum he has finally landed a leading part in Ghost Town and he gives a wonderfully grumpy performance which is sure to raise a few laughs. Gervais is ably supported by Greg Kinnear as rotten scoundrel Frank and Tea Leoni as the warm and attractive Gwen.

The writer and director was the talented David Koepp, the man responsible for Stir of Echoes and screenplay writer for Spider-Man, War of the Worlds and the latest Indiana Jones movie. His direction is inventive but the script is formulaic and while some elements of the comedy work perfectly other scenes drag on and become irritating. The premise is obviously familiar but you would expect it to be rich ground for comedy however it is hard to escape the feeling that Koepp fails to make the most of it.

Gervais is hilarious at times and surely destined for further success and this effort should bring him to the attention of US audiences once and for all. Surprisingly the chemistry between him and Leoni makes their unlikely association believable and while he wouldn't be many people's first choice for a romantic lead he does well in the role.

Ghost Town does provide a few twists along the way to offset the predictability factor and thanks to great performances and elegant direction it is entertaining in an unchallenging and relaxing way. It may not break with genre convention but the feel good factor comes through and there are enough laughs here to send most people home happy.