Tonight in HD: April 29

 SoHo Highlight: You Don’t Know Jack (Sky 10, 8.30, 5.1) Al Pacino stars as Dr Jack Kevorkian in this biopic tracing the controversial career of the outspoken assisted suicide advocate and activist. Said the New York Times: “It is a credit to Mr Pacino that while he burrows deep into the role, he never lets Dr Kevorkian’s crackpot charm overtake the character’s egomaniacal drive. Susan Sarandon, plain and bespectacled, is just as agile as Janet Good, a local Hemlock Society leader who made common cause with Dr Kevorkian — despite his lack of social graces. And it is a credit to the filmmakers that a movie dedicated to a fearless, stubborn man’s campaign against the medical establishment and the criminal justice system doesn’t overly romanticise his struggle or exonerate him from blame. No film about euthanasia, no matter how sensitively written, can avoid offending one side or the other; at best, both sides will find reason to complain. More important, You Don’t Know Jackis a compelling, at times thrilling, tale that can absorb even those with little interest or feeling for the subject. This is one of the saddest, dreariest subjects imaginable, but You Don’t Know Jack is anything but.” Barry Levinson directs; John Goodman and Brenda Vaccaro co-star. (2010) ✭✭✭✭

Sky Movies Premiere: The Mechanic (Sky 20, 8.30, 5.1) This sleek and soulless retread of the 1972 Charles Bronson thriller stars Jason Statham as a hit man with a new ‘apprentice’: the son of one of his targets (Ben Foster). How this unlikely relationship violently plays out will spin the wheels of action junkies but won’t warrant anyone else’s time. (2011) ✮✮✮

Neighbourhood (TV One, 11.00) Series premiere: This newcomer slips in under the wire here because although it’s not on “tonight”, it deserves to be in primetime. A dynamic, colourful take on what makes communities tick politically, culturally, creatively and even cuisine-wise, it opens with a lively look at Wellington’s Newtown through the eyes of musician King Kapisi (aka Bill Urale). Energetically paced and beautifully filmed, it bursts with a palette that will pop off your HD display. ✮✮✮✮

Pretty Little Liars (TV2, 5.30, 5.1) All is not what it seems as “A” sends the girls on a hunt to destroy lives. ✮✮

The War at Home (TV2, 6.30, R) After finding a note in Mike’s room, Dave and Vicky are convinced he is depressed, and try to cheer him up. ✮✮✮

The Food Truck (TV One, 7.00) Chef Michael Van De Elzen creates healthy, natural crisps to sell to the hungry hoardes at the Bloom Family Festival in Matakana. ✮✮✮✮

The Big Bang Theory (TV2, 7.00, 5.1, R)  When Sheldon gets sick, Leonard and the boys know what is in store for them and avoid him like the plague; this leaves an unsuspecting Penny to nurse the world’s worst patient back to health. ✮✮✮✮

Mike & Molly (TV2, 7.30, 5.1) Carl is confronted with his fear of commitment when he and Christina attempt to take their relationship to the next level. ✮✮

Movie: Valentine’s Day (TV2, 8.30, 5.1) Garry Marshall, who’s only ever directed two decent movies (Pretty Woman, The Other Sister), assembles a megastar cast for two hours of cheesy, clichéd, stupid Cupid comedy that’s more predictable than the price of roses on Valentine’s Day. (2010) ✮✮

Touch (TV3, 8.30, 5.1) As Martin and Clea work together to uncover a shocking development involving Clea’s mentally-challenged mother, Teller steps into trouble when he visits Jake at the board-and-care facility. ✮✮✮

Call the Midwife (TV One, 9.30) As Jenny Lee settles into her role, there is a new arrival at Nonnatus House; a chance encounter with Mary, a young pregnant runaway, forces Jenny to see an unfamiliar, darker side of life. ✮✮✮✮

The Almighty Johnsons (TV3, 10.30, R) Sometimes all it takes is a door getting kicked down, and a large man walking in, for many many truths to be revealed. ✮✮✮

Enlightened (TV One, 10.35, 5.1) Amy is thrilled when Sandy, whom she’d met in Hawaii during group therapy, comes to visit for a couple of days. Robin Wright guest stars. ✮✮✮