Wednesday's TV tips
A maverick pilot joins an elite squad of gung-ho flyboys to take part in a dangerous mission deep into enemy territory.
Unfortunately, his father’s bad reputation could scupper his ambitions before he’s even got off the ground. Meanwhile, he tries to woo a glamorous horse-riding psychiatrist.
This solid Top Gun spoof runs out of steam a little toward the end.
As he proved with hit sitcom Two and a Half Men, Charlie Sheen is a gifted comic, so little wonder he helped make this, and its sequel, huge blockbusters.
Charlie Sheen, Lloyd Bridges, Valeria Golino, Cary Elwes, Kevin Dunn
83%
Home from Home is a two-part documentary based in two nursing homes in Ireland.
Taking an observational approach to life in a nursing home, TV3 will highlight the words and actions of charismatic residents, hardworking staff and supportive family members.
This character-driven series will promote awareness and appreciation for the older, and often overlooked, generation.
These “salt of the earth” characters will share stories future generations will never have the pleasure of experiencing.
Along with observing highs, an in-depth look at the realities of living in a nursing home will be documented.
Sometimes, you can almost feel sorry for the would-be entrepreneurs. After all, how well would most of us do if were suddenly given just 48 hours to create and sell a new board game?
This week though, we can be a lot less forgiving as the candidates tackle a challenge they should have known was coming the moment they applied – it’s the buying task, where they are given a list of nine items they have to acquire as cheaply as possible.
Unlike in previous years, where the teams spent half the episode trying to work out what exactly ’nigella seeds“ were, the list is made up of items that have featured during the show’s history, including such greatest Apprentice hits as oud oil, and a kosher chicken, which caused a lot of trouble in the fourth series.
But even this prior knowledge won’t be much help if the teams don’t have the necessary bargaining skills.
In theory, he’s following the 1913 Bradshaw’s Guide, but some viewers may wonder if Michael Portillo is also drawing inspiration from the Eurovision Song Contest’s definition of Europe, as this week he’s heading into the Holy Land, taking in Israel and Palestine.
It’s a journey that begins in Haifa in modern-day Israel, where the former politician visits the spectacular shrine of the Baha’i to learn more about the faith and its spread to Britain.
Then there’s just time for a quick cookery lesson, before he’s back at the station, ready to travel on to Tel Aviv, and to hear how the city was founded. Michael also buys a ticket for the Jaffa to Jerusalem railway line, the first to be built in the Holy Land, which was constructed for pilgrims to journey to sacred places.
However, it isn’t a foregone conclusion that the presenter will get to see all the city’s monuments.
Four soldiers are sent on a top-secret mission in Iraq that results in them being imprisoned for a crime they did not commit.
When they learn the culprit is trying to sell equipment for producing fake currency, they break out of prison to find him and evidence of their innocence.
It’s about as good as it could be considering the source material was a tongue-in-cheek TV series.
Liam Neeson lends some gravitas; Bradley Cooper looks good with his shirt off; Sharlto Copley is suitably nuts, and Quinton ’Rampage’ Jackson lets the side down as BA Baracus.
Mr T’s performance looks Golden-Globes-worthy by comparison, and that scene where he tries to turn his back on violence before blowing things up is laughable.
Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Quinton ’Rampage’ Jackson, Sharlto Copley, Jessica Biel, Patrick Wilson
47%
Arab courtier Ahmad Ibn Fadlan is sent to the barbaric north as an emissary, because he fell in love with the wrong woman.
Ahmad accompanies a party of Vikings and is soon appalled by their customs, wanton sexuality, disregard for cleanliness and cold-blooded human sacrifices.
He then learns the horrifying truth that he has been enlisted to combat a terror that slaughters the Vikings and devours their flesh.
A troubled offering from Die Hard director John McTiernan, it boasts an epic vision, but somewhere along the way, things went wrong.
Antonio Banderas, Diane Venora, Vladimir Kulich, Omar Sharif, Anders T Andersen, Tony Curran, Richard Bremmer, Dennis Storhi
33%
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