“The Critic” (** out of four) was a disappointing melodrama set in 1934 London about a powerful film critic (Ian McKellen) who becomes embroiled in a duplicitous web of intrigue and murder in which he employs a young woman (Gemma Arterton) to seduce his boss (Mark Strong) who wrongfully terminated him from his job and destroyed his life. Doesn’t take off, despite the best efforts of a stellar cast. Film has some various points of intrigue and good atmosphere but never develops substantial momentum and thus never becomes fully involving.