The plot, stars and key facts about movies on current release.

BIG MOMMA'S HOUSE

(Cert 12, 98 mins)

FBI agent Malcolm Turner (Martin Lawrence) is used to going undercover to get the bad guys, often donning elaborate costumes to ensnare his prey. Following another successful bust, Turner and partner John (Paul Giamatti) are assigned to capture serial killer and bank robber Laster (Terrence Dashon Howard) who has recently escaped from jail. Hidden beneath the layers of Francine Jamison-Tanchuck's rather fine costume, Lawrence is more bearable than usual, forced to forego his smug, wise-cracking antics in favour of physical comedy and the odd smart oneliner.

FREQUENCY

(Cert 15, 118 mins)

If you were given the opportunity to travel back in time, and change just one event from your past, what would it be? New York cop John Sullivan (Jim Caviezel) knows exactly which moment he would choose: the day his fire-fighter father Frank (Dennis Quaid) died in a blaze. Parallel universes and time travelling have been the subjects of countless films, and like many of its predecessors, Frequency is fatally flawed in its logic. However, Toby Emmerich's script does have its moments. Quaid has rarely been better; Caviezel is equally good, tapping into the anger, wonderment and joy of a man suddenly given a second chance to be close to his hero.

GLADIATOR

(Cert 15, 150 mins)

British director Ridley Scott's sword-and-sandals epic is a muscular and bold combat film threaded with scenes of gore. The hero of the day is Maximus (Russell Crowe), a popular general in the army of Emperor Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris), who is adored as much by his men as he is by the Emperor. The Emperor's weasel-like son Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) is not best pleased by this show of family disloyalty and murders the old man. He assumes the throne and orders the immediate execution of Maximus, the sole threat to his rule. Barely escaping death, Maximus is forced into slavery and is trained as a gladiator by Proximo (Oliver Reed).

MAYBE BABY

(Cert 15, 104 mins)

Sam and Lucy Bell (Hugh Laurie, Joely Richardson) are bright, thirtysomething media darlings who want a baby but can't make one, so they deliver themselves into the hands of Dr James (Rowan Atkinson) who suggests sperm tests and possibly IVF as the way forward. Unfortunately, the endless medical tests soon take their toll on the couple's relationship. Writer-director Ben Elton strikes a pleasing balance between the comedy and drama, fleshing out Sam and Lucy in broad though intimate strokes and slowly gaining our affection and sympathy for them. The laughs are frequent and evolve from the couple's predicament.

LOVE'S LABOUR LOST (Cert U, 93 mins)

The marriage of Shakespeare and musical theatre, with Kenneth Branagh choosing a slightly different tack, taking the bare bones of the Bard's witty romantic comedy, and seamlessly working song and dance numbers into the original text. George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, Irving Berlin working in harmony with iambic pentameter. The songs work incredibly well, advancing the plot or expressing the characters' emotions. However, Alicia Silverstone concentrates far too much on getting her syncopation correct and consequently doesn't put much feeling into what she is saying. The remainder of the cast, many of them Shakespeare veterans, have no such problems.

RETURN TO ME

(Cert PG, 116 mins)

It's that hoary Hollywood chestnut: boy meets girl, boy falls in love with girl, girl turns out to have the transplanted heart of boy's deceased wife... Where some romantic comedies use religion, class or social standing to keep their would-be lovers apart, Bonnie Hunt's directorial debut opts for human biology. It sounds somewhat daft, but thanks to the good humour of the actors and script, it proves a charming addition to the genre.

SAVING GRACE

(Cert 15, 94 mins)

Grace Trevethan (Brenda Blethyn) has led a sheltered life, allowing her husband John to handle all of their business affairs while she gets on with the serious business of hosting tea parties for the Women's Institute. Her one real talent is gardening and after John is killed in an accident leaving her short of cash, her gardener Matthew (Craig Ferguson), advises that she starts growing marijuana to save the house from repossession. Blethyn is adorable as worldy unwise Grace, transforming herself into the most unlikely drugs dealer ever to frequent the south coast.

THE TIGGER MOVIE

(Cert U, 77 mins)

The adorably spring-loaded Tigger finally gets his first ever film (as if we needed reminding of what a cheery chappy he is). Some 17 years since the last Winnie The Pooh film was released in theatres, as well made as The Tigger Movie is, it really would be better suited as a straight-to-video film, that families can settle down and dip into together.

TOY STORY 2

(Cert U, 95 mins) Woody the cowboy is swiped by a fanatical toy collector, prompting Buzz Lightyear to mass the ramshackle troops on a dangerous rescue mission. Wonderful, top-drawer sequel to the computer- animated ground-breaker easily as good as the original, with gentle in-jokes, a honed script and lively vocal performances (Tom Hanks and Tim Allen reprising lead roles) all bolstering a gob-smackingly rendered adventure yarn.