The Bounty Hunter

1 of 5

Midnight Run it isn't

2 of 5

'See this badge? It allows us to star in a bad romantic comedy'

3 of 5

Scenes fall flat

4 of 5

One good outfit does not a must-see movie make

5 of 5

Weak punchlines

The weekend before last, Sandra Bullock did her credibility the power of good by turning up to accept an award and making a funny speech. Like Halle Berry before her, having won the Razzie for Worst Actress, Bullock showed the world that she got the joke. You'd like to think that Jennifer Aniston will show the same sense of fun if she gets the nod next year - it's only March, but after 'The Bounty Hunter' she's a contender.

She plays Nicole Hurley, a journalist who becomes a fugitive when she fails to turn up to answer a charge of assaulting a police horse with her car because she's trying to break a big story. Enter Milo Boyd (Butler), a bounty hunter, former cop - and Nicole's ex-husband. With $5,000 waiting for him when Nicole's behind bars, Milo won't hear a word about her police corruption scoop, but she's not going to take 'no' for an answer.

Watch an interview with Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler.

Aniston looking great in a black skirt and heels and Butler looking beefy in a short-sleeved shirt aren't good enough reasons to make a film. Did someone think that just putting them together would let the magic flow? Eh, you have to give them something to work with, too.

As light on gags as it is on charm, 'The Bounty Hunter' is a real stinker and if you ever met its two stars after seeing it the first question out of your mouth would not be "Can I take a photo?" or "Are you doing anything Saturday night?" but either "How in the name of all that's holy did you read that script and think it was decent?" or "Are you going to give me my €10 back?"

'The Bounty Hunter' manages to feel rushed and longer than 'Avatar' simultaneously. Scenes fall flat because the punchlines are so weak and the constant bickering between the we-still-fancy-each-other Nicole and Milo gets old very quickly - 'Midnight Run' it isn't. Sometimes you'll look through your hands, sometimes you'll give two fingers to the screen but mostly you'll be working on a serious case of RSI from checking your watch.

Harry Guerin