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The Inbetweeners 2 (2014)
Very disappointing
I wanted The Inbetweeners 2 to be good, I really did. Yes, I did laugh at times because ultimately the characters are still funny however the film started slow, picked up very slightly and then came crashing down. Their was no ending, the film just stopped. Any and all of the emotionally engaging stuff was palmed off immediately, Jay's quest to get Jane back which ended with an emphatic 'no' it didn't get a laugh, Will's trouble with another generic blonde girl who I can't even remember the name of, where was Allison? Simon's trouble with psycho girlfriend Lucy who seemed perfectly fine in the first film and finally Neil who had no story as such but that's fair enough, because, well it's Neil. Bitterly disappointed. Even the supposed emotional moment with the group stuck in the desert wasn't done well because ultimately we knew they would be fine. It made me smile at times and got a chuckle out of me but it just wasn't put together very well.
The World's End (2013)
Cornetto Trilogy goes out with a 'zzz'
Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz are two fantastic comedy action films, Both films contain lines which will be repeated and remembered fondly forever. However The World's End does not, Me and two other friends left the cinema completely unaffected by this film, We couldn't remember a single line or engaging moment in the whole film and apparently neither could the rest of the theater as the film barely got a laugh throughout, 2 people to our right, Left about 20 minutes from the end.
The pub crawl concept is actually decent but it was ruined by the lack of cohesion between the five main characters, You never really felt that these five were really lifetime friends, When some of them inevitably met their demise you honestly didn't care.
I also found it a bit strange seeing Simon Pegg in the role of the idiot and Nick Frost in the role of the serious character, Gary King played by Simon was not a likable idiot the same way Ed and Danny were.
The pacing of the film was very odd too, It starts off fairly smooth but suddenly goes all over the place, The last 30 minutes was directionless chaos with a forced in at the last minute message about Technology.
To put it simply, The World's End suffers from sequelitis, It was always going to be compared to the first two but you hoped it was good enough to stand on it's own two feet. Unfortunately it never did.
Top Gear (2002)
Top Comedy, Top Entertainment. Top Gear!
INTRO: I think it's fair to say that Top Gear has not suffered from the prototypical decline in quality over the years like most TV Programmes, instead they have substituted what once was a dream for petrol heads around the world into a 'questionably informative' hour long banter session. Now granted the show is still called 'Top Gear' rather than 'Top Banter' they maintain a high level of automotive content albeit not aimed at consumers for the most part, due to the fact that most of the cars they review cost more than Simon Cowell's hair products for a full calendar year. Despite this the reviews are informative and sprinkled with jokes throughout. Now and again you will get a challenge or review based around much more affordable cars which are usually conducted by 'Mr Sensible' James May.
CHALLENGES: One trademark of the show is the 'Challenges' if you're looking to see how fast a Nissan Micra reaches 60 mph while carrying a week's worth of shopping then think again. The boys are given a set budget usually around the £2000 mark to buy a car which is specific to the challenge set, for example the episode in which they prove that British Leyland made a good car. The challenges start of simple, i.e who's the fastest around the Top Gear track. Then filling up the car with water and attempting to do a lap of the track, while this may seem pointless and stupid, the idea is to see who's car leaks the most which tests for build quality. The Challenges may be goofy but for the most part have an underlying purpose.
THE BOYS: All 3 presenters whom share different views and different opinions ultimately gel to perfection due to there un-dying love for cars.
Jeremy Clarkson for me is one of the funniest men in the country, he's not afraid of a controversial statement or joke, he speaks his mind which as a result leads to some hilarious lines and actions from him. He is considered the leader of the group, the glue that holds everything together and rightfully so. He might not be everyone's cup of tea but for me he's one of the best out there.
Richard Hammond is considered to be the most relatable man in the group his personality and actions are pretty standard with the occasional childish moment thrown in, he's arguably the most boring of the 3. But ultimately he's the most level headed and that's why we like him.
James May is the intelligent one, he's not bothered about appearance or relevance, he's pretty much the bread and butter of the cast, simplistic in everything he does. However he has two characteristics that make him so hilarious. 1. His OCD, he's obsessed with doing everything correctly and keeping clean, as a result he clashes with the messy and unpractical Clarkson, some of there arguments have me holding my gut with laughter. 2. His internal compass is ultimately broken, he never has a clue where he is going and often get's lost or left behind during challenges.
CONCLUSION: I can't name a single person I know who dislikes Top Gear, which is a true testament to how wide of an audience the show can bring in. Whether you have an interest in cars, comedy, or culture you are sure to the enjoy the show just as much as anyone else. You might be asking, based on this review. Why has he not given it a 10? Ultimately the show still has potential to get even better and thus I want to leave the rating open for debate in the future.
Thanks for reading!
The Big Bang Theory (2007)
Near flawless
I would like to start by saying that I am not generally a fan of American sitcoms, for me their has not been a good one since Friends. I did not watch The Big Bang Theory from the moment it was released back in 2007, Around 2010 was the first time I tuned in, learning that the show was created by Chuck Lorre, who released the god awful and highly over-rated Two And A Half Men, didn't fill me with much hope. I don't recall which exact episode I watched first, but I do remember laughing my behind off, the writing at times is so intelligent yet simple which lures in such a wide audience. As far as the characters go Leonard is the main man in the group coping with his stereotypical geeky job while trying to apply himself to 'social conventions' he is only the main character in theory not practice, if you ask any one who has seen the show they will immediately reference Sheldon, played by the extremely talented Jim Parsons, who I was surprised to discover has no real history of acting besides this show, everything about his performance be it the delivery or the execution is top notch, I hope to see him in other projects in the future. Raj and Howard initially take on the role of dumb and dumber, both attempt to fulfill their need for a relationship in unique ways whether it's Raj's inability to talk to women or Howard's creepy personality. Finally Penny whom is the most one dimensional of all the characters regardless we still love her for it and Kaley Cuoco plays the dumb blonde very well, despite the obvious differences between her character and the lads both gel extremely well. All the side characters are quirky and unique, branching from the mischievous lisp suffering work colleague Kripky or Howard's awful New York inspired mother. Overall The Big Bang Theory is a shining beacon in a polluted modern TV schedule featuring 'masterpieces' such as The Only Way Is Essex and Jersey Shore.