The Screen Critic: Bad weather stars in a top disaster film, romance blooms in a fun conspiracy comedy and John Malkovich shines in a French gem

The winds blow hard and fast and on a regular basis in Twisters, a fabulously entertaining action film that features a showcase of hyper-realistic visual effects and two lead characters that – believe this if you dare – are not made of cardboard.

A nominal sequel to the 1996 film Twister – wisely there’s barely a reference to it, not even a flying cow – the action takes place in America’s infamous tornado alley during an especially furious season.

Eager to document the events are grief-ridden scientist Kate (Daisy Edgar-Jones), who lost friends while “storm chasing”, and Tyler (Glen Powell), a huge YouTube star whose team of high-tech yokels film tornadoes to build their online audience.

There are lashings of top-flight action as a relentless succession of twisters tear through fields and towns, ripping up buildings and tossing vehicles into the sky. Not even innocent chickens are spared.

The visuals are astounding, yet what sets the film several notches above average is how well- developed the lead characters are, with Kate having her dismissive presumptions about Tyler tested.

You just don’t expect that in a disaster film, and it’s a big part of the appeal in this terrific family-friendly survival adventure.

Lovers of conspiracy theories are bound to enjoy Fly Me to the Moon, a handsomely produced period rom-com set during the Apollo 11 mission.

Scarlett Johansson plays Kelly, a wily marketing executive brought in to boost NASA’s public image.

Objecting to her presence is mission director Cole, played by the handsomely produced Channing Tatum. Naturally, their friction is spiced by the 100-year-old movie law about how opposites attract.

In case the astronauts don’t make it to the moon, Kelly is secretly tasked with setting up a fake moon landing, which can also be used if the actual footage from the lunar surface doesn’t look convincing enough.

The snappy pace and expensive production values ensures a fun ride, yet alongside all the silliness is a solemn tribute to the space program, both its triumphs and its tragedies.

Yes, the film is a flag waver, but a sensibly qualified one.

For a strong dose of the shakes check out Sting, a quality creature feature about a spider from outer space that causes no end of havoc to the inhabitants of a grimy, poorly lit apartment house.

Dripping with creepy atmosphere, this tightly directed horror treat cleverly plays upon our universal fear of spiders. Anyone who doesn’t have arachnophobia will probably have it by the time the credits roll.

Also full of creepy atmosphere but far less effective is Longlegs, in which Nicolas Cage plays a Satan- loving urban predator who looks like he crashed into a Halloween make-up cabinet.

The film has received rave reviews in the US but, to be honest, what’s the point of a horror film without any decent scares?

Over on the arthouse circuit is the French gem Mr Blake at Your Service, a charming comedy of manners starring John Malkovich as a bereaved Brit who revisits the castle-like mansion where he met his wife.

Working as a butler he endears himself to the slightly eccentric inhabitants, including the financially troubled owner. Light as a soufflé, it’s a pleasant yarn with some nice things to say about regret and the inevitability that loss is part of life.

The one Big Rule in today’s Hollywood seems to be that it’s never too late to squeeze out yet another sequel. Why else would the world have Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F?

Some 30 years after the third one Eddie Murphy, now 63, returns as the renegade streetwise detective to help his estranged daughter (Taylour Paige) track down a killer.

Also starring John Ashton and Judge Reinhold from the previous films, Murphy does an OK job dishing out wisecracks in an over-complicated plot, with Kevin Bacon playing a dodgy, extra-smarmy police captain.

While the jaunt is amusing enough it is one of those films common to streaming that seems primarily designed to kill time while you perform domestic duties.

So, by all means, check it out on Netflix while you’re doing the ironing or defrosting tonight’s crumbed chicken cutlets in the air fryer.

For more visit jimschembri.com with updates on X at @jimschembri