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Peep Show (2003)
Defines Humour
I got into this show about two years ago after buying it on DVD upon hearing some positive views. Peep show is an extremely creative and humorous show, which is based upon two characters (Mark and Jeremy) who couldn't be further apart in terms of their interests and general views of society. Mark brings in most of the laughs and if you purchase the season one DVD that is where he is in best form as he lusts for a firm black manager of his credit firm called Alan Johnson and becomes obsessed with a fellow work college called Sophie which he messes up in typical fashion during the first two seasons. Jeremy is a lazy slob who lives with Mark in his flat, and if he isn't getting stoned or wanking he is there at Mark's aid with his funny down to earth viewpoint on how Mark is messing up with his love life and life in general (don't worry this is funnier and smarter than it sounds). Unfortunately seasons three and four are not quite as funny as the original two seasons which gathered such a positive reception due to its originality but that's not to say that the newer seasons are bad. I would recommend this show to fans of original alternative comedy as Peep Show takes a different view through of a couple of mates who are looking for (the stereotypical lads view) of women and sex. A must watch.
The Thin Blue Line (1995)
Brilliant comedy by Ben Elton
The Thin Blue Line is a very enjoyable comedy to watch due to the variety of different characters created by Ben Elton whom are extremely different to one another and also very funny in their own ways. The show is based in the fictional town of Gasforth which is suppose to be located around London.
Inspector Fowler (played by Atkinson) is the well-spoken police officer who is best described by his girlfriend police Sargeant Dawkins as a "man who was born middle aged". Atkinson is superb in the role, and my favourite moments involving Inspector Fowler include his views and attitudes towards current society in which he would rather stay in his office and read a book whilst eating a chocolate frog than queueing up in the bank to renew his standing order. There are also great moments in the show when Fowler has to interact with other members of the police force including Constable Goody and Inspector Grimm.
Inspector Grimm has to be the highlight of the show, he is played wonderfully by David Haig who unfortunately has not be on TV much after his excellent performance on this show. Grimm gets frustrated easily by Fowler, police work and anything in general. He works in CID in the Gasforth police station and yearns for real police work involving thugs and drug dealers. But in most cases he gets tricked by students who cause pranks during rag week, gets foiled in a honey trap operation which he took accountability for and becomes an undercover football fan where he arrests the football players rather than the fans. Inspector Grimm just cant take "fannying about".
Another brilliant character is Constable Goody who joined the police force to "strut around in a nice uniform and stop crime". He unintentionally gets under Inspector Fowler's skin who finds him quite annoying. He also fancies the feminist Constable Maggie Habib, who he has no chance in winning over but still tries relentlessly to impress her.
The show is worth checking out if you are a fan of British comedy and/or Rowan Atkinson and writer Ben Elton. Both seasons one and two are enjoyable with all episodes worth watching. My favourite episode is the finale to season two in which Fowler upsets Sargeant Dawkins after his terrible marriage proposal and he therefore is asked to come out on the pull by the other officers (a term Fowler is not familiar with). Also in the episode Inspector Grimm believes his time has come to be promoted in CID.
The Simpsons Movie (2007)
Decent nothing more
After 18 long years, the greatest comedy masterpiece of all time has finally hit the big screen and the hopes and expectations of the true Simpsons fans couldn't be higher. But does this movie deliver? Yes and no really.
It is hard to describe the plot of this movie as the writers have used the four main characters Homer, Marge, Lisa and Bart and then added a supporting plot to each one. So you can get to see your favourite Simpson's characters dealing with different situations which are all related to the main story. But the only character which delivers the best moments in the film is naturally Homer. Who else? In the film Bart starts to look at Ned as a farther figure after he is neglected by Homer after he didn't take the wrap for Bart causing anarchy in his naked skateboard stunt. This storyline has its moments but feels slightly contrived because after all Homer and Bart have a love hate relationship and after 18 years he finally feels that Flanders is a more suitable Dad? Hmm.
But as the trailer states you get to "see Homer, Marge, Lisa, Bart and Maggie and a cast of hundreds". Well you get to see the other characters and I know this is the "Simpsons Movie" but I feel that there are some excellent (no pun intended) back up characters in the Simpsons and several situations in the movie when they could have been used more were squandered. For example Mr Burns who was superb in the short instance when he was in the film was wasted really. Considering he is such a power craving and evil man, I think he would have been slightly more ruthless if he found out that someone with more authority had thought of a scheme to block all townspeople from leaving the town. Maybe I am getting a head of myself here though.
The main man behind all this chaos in Springfield is President Schwarzenegger, which I found to be an excellent idea for a satirical character by the writing staff of this movie. "I was elected to lead not to read" got the best laugh out of me during the 87 minutes of the movie.
But to be honest most of the jokes in this movie, I wouldn't describe as hysterical. I found myself smirking more than laughing out loud. Personally I have been a fan of the show for 18 years, and I even watch the new episodes every week which are mixed bag but I do get a kick out of some of the newer ones. The Simpsons movie will not appeal to doubters and/or ex-fans who do not currently like the newer episodes. But I still felt like this movie was worth watching and a slightly enjoyable way to pass time.
It just could have pushed a bit more boundaries and made the most out of some the ideas which were there. So overall The Simpsons Movie was decent but hardly the best moment of the shows history.
Movie Lounge (2006)
Very disappointing show, which had lots of potential
I wanted to love "Movie Lounge" as I am really into films and therefore wanted this show to do well and make people want to go to the cinema based on sound advice. The last movie programme channel five did was excellent and it was hosted by Gail Porter, so I wanted this show to go down the same street but it has turned out to be too patronising.
For starters the host's seem to be up their own asses, and if they don't like a film they go on about it to the point where it makes you feel put off by going to the cinema. For example they slated "V for Vendetta" which I can understand to a certain extent, but the way they criticised the film was quite annoying, and it was like they had just watched Battlefield Earth or something.
The last few times I watched the programme they had this kid who they make watch films, and instead of giving a judgement of the film he reviews the women actors in terms of looks, in a kind of slimy voice. This was maybe funny the first time they did it, but they carried on with it, week after week after week.
Shows like this have great potential, look at film review with Jonathan Ross for example. But "Movie Lounge" is the total opposite as they add their own type of "humour" and cynicism into reviewing films, which totally eludes me.
What a shame.
It's All Gone Pete Tong (2004)
You don't have to be a clubber to appreciate this movie
It's all gone Pete Tong is the story about an Ibizian DJ, Frankie Wild (who is a loud mouthed, cocaine addicted party animal). The mockumentary tells us quickly about his rise to fame in Ibiza and how he loses it, literally. Years of doing sets in the loud drug scened clubs are starting to set their toll on Frankie who is losing his hearing much to the annoyance of his agent, who cant seem to get a word of him. Suddenly Frankie loses the 20% of the hearing he has left so he barricades himself away from mankind in his Ibizian villa. It's all gone Pete Tong is hilarious when it's funny and if anyone was going to play Frankie Wild it had to be Paul Kaye. The film slightly slows down in the 70 minute mark, but still i'd recommend it to anyone even if they are not into the clubbing scene. The film capitulates the true meaning of a feel good summer film. 7/10
P.S It's all gone Pete Tong means (forthose of you who don't know) "It's all gone wrong".