'Choke'

Director: Clark Gregg

Cast: Sam Rockwell, Angelica Huston, Kelly Macdonald

Cert: 16

Based on the novel by Chuck Palahniuk this funny and vulgar tale of a con-man, Victor Mancini (Rockwell), who prays on the sympathy of the people who save him from choking to death in restaurants – it’s part of his magnificent scam since the choking is self-induced – to get money for his sick mother.

If the plot sounds complicated - it is, but with the always-excellent Rockwell playing, once again, one of the losers he does so well the film is always worth watching.

The original book was, though, funnier and more vulgar and the characters somehow more interesting, albeit that they were universally losers as well.

Gregg somehow doesn’t bring us well-rounded characters nor does he get the original twisted humour of Palahnuik.

It’s not a bad film, certainly it’s an off-centre one, but it could, should, have been a much better one.

Star Rating: 3/5