New British TV Show
Reviews
December 17, 2012
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Comic Strip: Five Go To Rehab (12/12)
In
1982 The Comic Strip was the very first program broadcast on Channel
4 with "Five Go Mad To Dorset," a Enid Blyton parody. For the 30th
anniversary, the cast reassemble and often shooting in the same
locations do a sequel, "Five Go To Rehab." It's great to see Peter
Richardson, Adrian Edmondson, Jennifer Saunders and Dawn French back
together again, joined by familiar faces as Robbie Coltrane, Nigel
Planer, Rik Mayall and recent Comic Strip addition Stephen Mangan.
Sure, the actors are all in their 50s now, and some have aged better
than others, but it's nice to see Channel 4 remember past glories such
as The Comic Strip.
Cuckoo (12/12)
"Saturday Night Live" veteran Adam Samberg stars as Cuckoo, a free
spirit American who is brought home as the new husband of a nice
English girl whom he met during her gap year in Asia, much to the
horror of her parents Ken and Lorna in this BBC3 comedy. Ken (Greg
Davies) can't stand Cuckoo and conspires to get rid of him, but Cuckoo
is such a mellow guy that he bonds with Ken anyway and eventually
begins a potato van business. Lorna (Helen Baxendale) finds her
new son-in-law sweet, and it's not like she and Ken are middle-class
squares (they grew up in the 1970s after all). Davies, a giant who
towers over the petite Baxendale, often seems he is channeling Rik Mayall, constantly angry about something and allowing himself to be humiliated by his own shortcomings.
Derren Brown: Apocalypse (12/12)
The
illusionist really pulls the wool over an unsuspecting slacker in this
two-part Channel 4 special by convincing him he's one of the few
survivors during a zombie apocalypse. But it's not to prank him or
make him look foolish, but rather inspiring him to develop skills
(leadership, bravery, empathy) that will prove useful once the
experiment is over.
Derren Brown: Fear & Faith (12/12)
In
this two-part Channel 4 documentary, Brown first manages to persuade a
huge group of people to overcome their phobias using a placebo and an
elaborate fake medical company set up complete with doctors and
scientists. Secondly, he finds a deliberately agnostic non-religious
woman and in just 15 minutes is able to have her believe she's having a
religious experience. He is the master of persuasion and fills the hour
with examples of how human being's attempts to find patterns in
randomness can lead to some thinking there's a divine hand involved.
Skeptics should find much to rejoice here as usual.
Everyday (12/12)
John Simm
and Shirley Henderson star in this Channel 4 movie about a woman coping
with the fact her husband has been sent to prison for several years and
their day-to-day life. Shot very much in the style of Dogma95 films
(natural lighting, gritty realism) this Michael Winterbottom film was
actually made over a period of several years in different locations,
with the kids growing up, and Simm's appearance changing depending on
what else he was doing at the time. But it's a gimmick and can't gloss
over the fact this is about a woman visiting her husband in prison over
and over with the kids, his occasional forays out on day-release, and
eventual release when his sentence is over. And that's it. We know
nothing of their back story, Simm's crime never even gets a mention,
what's he in for? A few times you think the kids are in real trouble
but in fact it's nothing worse than typical child behavior, just more
dramatic because of the sense that something terrible is going to
happen (which it doesn't really). Watchable only because either Simm
or Henderson are in every scene and they are never dull, but it's a
chore to sit through.
Full English (12/12)
Channel 4 animated
series that owes a lot to both "The Simpsons" and "Family Guy" about a
dysfunctional family (including Richard Ayoade as the voice of the
hapless dad) plus mum's dad who has an imaginary friend named Squidge.
Celebrities and pop culture are ruthlessly parodied, with language and
nudity you wouldn't even see on HBO. Not for the easily offended.
Hebburn (12/12)
BBC
comedy/drama about a newly married couple who return to Hebburn (sounds
like "heaven" when spoken by the locals) near Newcastle, where things
don't change much. Jack's new bride from "down south," Sarah (Kimberley
Nixon) surprises everyone by being Jewish, and mum and dad (Gina McKee,
Jim Moir--aka "Vic Reeves") are disappointed they didn't attend their
drunken quickie Vegas wedding. Jack's old girlfriend is still on the
warpath, while his sister is sweet with the local pub crooner. Much of
the action occurs in the local pub, or in gran's nursing home. Written
by Jason Cook, not surprisingly it was produced by Steve Coogan's Baby
Cow Manchester company.
Homefront (12/12)
ITV1
serialized drama about the lives of women whose husbands are deployed
to Afghanistan. It begins with Tasha (Antonia Thomas, Misfits)
receiving word her husband has died in action leaving her with a baby
and a mother-in-law who blames her. Other plots include a woman (Claire
Skinner) who is marrying the unit commander but isn't quite ready for
the life of being an officer's wife, and a woman who realizes her
husband has been cheating on her. When the boys come home on leave is
when the drama really happens.
Hunted (12/12)
This
BBC/Cinemax co-production is very similar to "Alias," which also
starred a kickass female spy trying to uncover a conspiracy. Here, Sam
Hunter (Melissa George) is betrayed during a mission by one of her
team, spends a year recovering in secret, then returns to London to the
private security company she worked for, each side not trusting the
other. Her team's new assignment is to prevent corrupt Jack Turner
(Patrick Malahide) from winning the bid to buy a Pakistani dam, but as
Sam goes undercover as an American nanny, she discovers that she might
not be working for the good guys. Former "X-Files" producer Frank
Spotnitz created the series, so you can imagine the conspiracy theories
that develop over the eight episode run.
Ian Hislop's Stiff Upper Lip (12/12)
The Have I Got News For You panelist presents this three-part BBC
documentary about the history of British stoicism, how it developed
and became fashionable during the Victorian era, helped the country through two world wars,
but seemingly has faded away with the advent of showing tears on
reality TV, and the reaction to Princess Diana's death.
Last Tango In Halifax (12/12)
Sally
Wainwright (At Home With The Braithwaites) wrote this charming BBC
drama series about a widower and widow (Derek Jacobi and Anne Reid) who
rediscover each other via Facebook 60 years after a misunderstanding
prevented them from spending their lives together. Given a second
chance they decide to get married, much to the surprise of their adult
daughters (Sarah Lancashire and Nicola Walker) and grandchildren.
Wainwright is an expert at these big cast ensembles, particularly
keeping the point of view on the women, none of whom are perfect, but
just trying to muddle through with daily life in Yorkshire.
The Life and Adventures of Nick Nickleby (12/12)
Five
part BBC modern adaptation of the Dickens' classic about a young man
(Andrew Simpson) who tries to support his family after his debt-ridden
father dies. Nick's uncle (Adrian Dunbar) wants nothing to do with
them when they come to London for help but in an effort to get Nick's
sister in bed with a Russian businessman, sends him to work at the
retirement home he owns. There, Nick meets Mrs Smike (Linda Bassett)
and, shocked at the horrible conditions there, they run away together.
I haven't read the original novel, but I'm amazed at how writer Joy
Wilkinson manages to make modern conveniences like cell phones, cars,
and even a video file integral to the plot. As in most of Dickens'
work, the bad guys are really bad and beyond redemption, and one must
allow for their almost cartoon villainy here.
Me and Mrs Jones (12/12)
BBC1 situation comedy starring Sarah Alexander as Gemma, a divorced mum
with three kids, one of whom returns from his gap year with new mate
Billy (Robert Sheehan, Misfits),
whom she is attracted to despite his age. Meanwhile, her ex (Neil
Morrissey) is dating the fierce Inca, while Nathaniel Parker plays a
possible suitor for Gemma. Alexander allows herself to be put in
silly situations, a bit like a blonde Lucille Ball, but Gemma's
inability to commit or act like an adult much of the time makes it hard
to completely relate to her.
The Paradise (12/12)
Charming
BBC/Masterpiece produced family drama by Bill Gallagher (Lark Rise To
Candleford) about a Victorian-era department store run by the
single-minded Moray (Emun Elliott) who is in an on-again off-again
relationship with the daughter of his banker. In to this world steps
Denise (Joanna Vanderham) who rather than work for her uncle the
dressmaker in his tiny shop across the road, gets a job in the Ladies
Department under the stern Miss Audrey (Sarah Lancashire). But Denise
is too full of ideas to be a simple shop assistant and Moray begins to
take notice of them--and her. A full cast fills out the other
employees of The Paradise who also live on the premises, from the
orphan boy who knows no other world, to the mysterious one-armed Jonas
who always has his eye on everyone. Arthur Darvill (Rory on Doctor
Who) turned up in one episode as an ambitious barber. Based on the
19th Century French novel "The Ladies' Paradise" by Emile Zola.
Room At The Top (12/12)
This
long-delayed BBC remake of the famous 1957 John Braine novel stars
Matthew McNulty (The Paradise, Misfits) as Joe Lampton, an
ambitious young man in post-war Britain. Although he is interested in
Susan Brown (Jenna-Louise Coleman), he begins an affair with the older
Alice Aisgill (Maxine Peake, Silk). Joe here is presented as a less
self-serving bastard than in the 1959 film version and more sympathetic, but nevertheless he
makes some poor life decisions in his quest to achieve his goals.
The Secret of Crickley Hall (12/12)
Three
part spooky BBC mini-series adapted by Joe Ahearne (Ultraviolet)
about a family that has experienced a tragedy who move into a creepy
house they don't know is haunted by a vengeful spirit. Suranne Jones
plays the mum who literally loses her young son (she fell asleep at the
playground), but a year later still believes he'll be found alive. Her
husband (Tom Ellis) persuades her to temporarily move, along with their
two daughters, to Crickley Hall which was used as an orphanage for
refugees during the war. In flashbacks we see the cruel administrators
(Douglas Henshaw and Sarah Smart) and the plucky teacher who tries to
help the children but comes to a tragic end. In the present day, the
former groundskeeper (David Warner) tries to warn the family but at
night an apparition carrying a whip begins to terrorize them. Will her
son be found? Did a flood kill all the orphans or was it something
crueler? And what does the ghost want? Creepy and atmospheric, as you
would want in a production like this.
Secret State (12/12)
A
remake of the classic A Very British Coup about an idealistic
politician (Gabriel Byrne) who suddenly becomes Prime Minister but
finds forces much bigger than himself moving to make sure his new style
of politics don't upset the status quo. The plot in this Channel 4
mini-series manages to work in 21st Century issues such as the power of
oil companies, the all-seeing security services, banks, and the rush to
war.
Some Girls (12/12)
The
anti-"Girls," instead of the HBO series with twentysomething
Manhattan-living girls with money, in this BBC3 comedy we meet Viva, an
intelligent London schoolgirl whose mates aren't the brightest kids in
school. She, Holli, Amber and Saz are all teammates on the girl's
soccer club, run by a despotic Australian who is also Viva's dad's
pregnant girlfriend! We see the world through Viva's eyes, who tries to
help her friends as best she can but often has to roll her eyes at
their antics sometimes. A sweet, funny series about life as unpopular
teenagers who nevertheless survive.
Switch (12/12)
ITV2 drama series about an urban coven of modern young witches living
in Camden, London and their misadventures. All four women need to
be together to cast a spell, which often backfires in the end or has
unexpected consequences (fortunately, speaking a truth will undo
it). The issues don't get too heavy or supernatural (trouble with
men, trouble with work, trouble with rivals) and the charm of the cast
(Phoebe Fox, Hannah Tointon, Nine Toussaint-White and Lacey Turner) go
a long way.
Wizards vs Aliens (12/12)
Russell T. Davies co-created this children's fantasy series as a replacement for The Sarah Jane Adventures
which as the title might suggest, involves an alien race that has come
to Earth to drain all the magic from the few who still have the
power. This includes a teenage boy, who teamed up with the class
brain, manage to hold off an entire race ruled by large puppet voiced
by Brian Blessed in a series of two-part adventures. One has to account
for this CBBC series being aimed at kids, but it has enough suspense
and a driving score to make it entertaining with reservations.
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Written and maintained by Ryan K. Johnson (rkj@eskimo.com).
December 17, 2012