It is time for a round up of new films that I have seen on Netflix this month.

Bank of Dave 2: The Loan Ranger
This is a sequel to the 2023 Netflix hit, The Bank of Dave, which told the story of Burnley native Dave Fishwick, who established a thriving community bank to take on the big boys. Two years later, Dave faces an even more dangerous and formidable opponent than the big banks – Payday Loan Companies. Rory Kinnear returns in the role of Dave, one that he clearly has an affinity for. The original embellished the basic true story and this follow up does that even more. However, it is hard to resist the good natured tale and it is easy to root for the underdog once again. The story is stalled somewhat by the romantic subplot involving a Citizens Advice Bureau worker and an American journalist, though Amit Shah and Chrissy Metz are very good in their roles. But this is the very definition of a Sunday afternoon with a pot of tea film.
Rating: 6.5 out of 10

Back in Action
Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz play former CIA spies who are forced back into action when their secret identities are exposed. A well-worn plot with stars well-past their prime left my expectations low, and whilst it is easy to think of so many other films this borrows from, it is actually very entertaining. Foxx and Diaz spark off each other well, with a number of amusing exchanges. It is also amazing that Foxx had a serious stroke during filming and returned to complete it. Andrew Scott is terrific as an MI6 agent who they suspect is in cahoots with the bad guys and Fola Evans-Akingbola shows a nice amount of dry wit as his sidekick. But Glenn Close is awful as Diaz’s Mum and Jamie Demetriou little better as her boyfriend. Very lightweight but also really enjoyable.
Rating: 7 out of 10

Ad Vitam
Ex-cop Franck Lazareff (Guillaume Canet) is hiding a secret from his pregnant wife, Leo (Stéphane Caillard). When masked men break into their apartment and take Leo, he has to use all of his skills to get her back. This is definitely a film of three acts. The initial kidnap follows a terrific fight scene and it ends with an exciting elongated chase and hospital dash. The middle section is a flashback to Franck becoming a policeman is needed to make sense of the story but it goes on a little too long. Otherwise, Ad Vitam is very entertaining.
Rating: 7 out of 10