CINEMA history is punctuated by films in which the shared chemistry of its leading stars has propelled the movie into classic status: Gone With the Wind, Bonnie and Clyde – even Tom Hanks and Wilson the volleyball in Cast Away captured the hearts of cinema goers. Tom Hanks and the dog from Turner and Hooch, however, is another thing altogether.

This week sees a trio of films relying on the dynamic duos of their leading stars.

First up is the unfortunate pairing of Katherine Heigl and Ashton Kutcher in the romantic/action/comedy Killers. Here Heigl continues to drain the goodwill accumulated from Knocked Up, hooking up with former hitman Kutcher for a number of unfunny hijinks involving mistaken identity, love and murder. Hmm.

Advance word has been less than impressive, with the film already prominent on critics’ worst-of-the-year lists, though it does boast one great pairing: that of Tom Selleck and his magnificent mo’.

Elsewhere this week sees perhaps the least likely pair: Jackie Chan and Will Smith’s son Jaden in the remake of the classic coming-of-age flick The Karate Kid. Here Chan takes Smith under his wing to teach him the correct way to open up a can of chop-socky when his romantic advances on a young violinist are thwarted by the local bully.

Now, the original is deemed a stone cold classic for fans around the world and the news that certain liberties have been taken in the remake have received a reception that can only be described as lukewarm at best. The absence of karate (its title is The Kung Fu Kid in Asia) amongst other tinkering with the original story has lit up internet chatrooms with worried anticipation. Don’t despair though, advance word has been better than you’d expect.

Finally, we have another unique pairing with the rotund Jonah Hill and somewhat bonkers Russell Brand teaming up for the madness of Get Him to the Greek. From the team that brought Forgetting Sarah Marshall to the screen, here Brands riffs on his outlandish image to maximum effect as an out-of-control rockstar.

Advance word has been positive with perhaps the most unlikely star to emerge from this flick being Sean “Diddy” Combs, who apparently steals every scene he’s in. See what you think.

JAMES O’SULLIVAN - HT