Flyboys

James Franco stars in this First World War tale that's loosely based on the true story of the Lafayette Escadrille, a fighter squadron made up of American men helping the French cause before the US joined the conflict. Franco (Harry in the Spider-Man franchise) plays Blaine Rawlings, who leaves Texas for France when his family lose their ranch. He's one of a band of disparate Americans, all with varying reasons for risking their lives in the air. But the plot is merely an excuse to cram a bunch of cute kids into cockpits and send them rat-a-tat-tatting away into the wild blue yonder. On the ground, the film stalls somewhat, with clichéd characters and corny dialogue. But in the air it soars - the dogfights between aircraft held together by string and prayer are some of the best ever seen on screen. Flyboys is great fun, and an action epic in the old-fashioned sense.