Super Bad posterAfter a disappointing week of un-suspenseful suspense films we welcome a couple of potentially comedic comedies this week. Firstly, from Judd Apatow, creator of The 40 Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up, comes Super Bad. Co-written by Knocked Up star (and funny guy) Seth Rogen with childhood friend Evan Goldberg when they were about 14, it follows two High School kids (who at one point were going to be called Seth and Evan) on a search for booze and girls so they can lose their virginity before they go to college. Playing at Readings, Regent-on-Manners, Sky City Queensgate.

The 40 Year Old Virgin himself, Steve Carell, stars in an un-anticipated sequel to Jim Carrey’s Bruce Almighty: Evan Almighty. Carell returns as Evan Baxter: egotistical newscaster in the original; egotistical Congressman in this one and Morgan Freeman is also back as God. Readings, Regent-on-Manners, Sky City Queensgate.

[The rest of this week’s releases after the jump]

John Travolta gets to fat up for fun in Hairspray, a Broadway musical version of the John Waters film from 1988. This one is getting the widest release of the year, so far: Readings, Empire, Regent-on-Manners, Penthouse, Sky City Queensgate.

The Embassy is being taken in an arthouse direction by operators Sky City: first example of the new regime is Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, an adaptation of one of the best-loved novels of recent years. Also playing at Rialto and the Penthouse, though why anyone would choose to see it at the Rialto when the Embassy is only a ten minute walk away is beyond me. (OK, price and session choice, maybe)

The Penthouse is dealing with their winter doldrums by opening films faster than they can be made: also opening this week in Brooklyn is I Do (Prête-moi ta main), another French romantic comedy.

Finally, one of the best music documentaries of recent years returns to the Paramount from the Festival: Joe Strummer: The Future is Unwritten. And this year’s Italian Film Festival got itself launched last night. The programmes should be available across town any minute now but if you can’ wait here’s the official site.