Alan Partridge

I am huge Alan Partridge fan but despite this, I went into this film with slight trepidation as I don't think I can remember a TV-Film comedy transition that ever managed to really capture the magic of the TV version. Alas it is the same story again here. For me, the series of Alan Partridge where he lives in the motel, is one of the greatest comedy series of all time (C*** P*** Partridge), and the follow up series with him living in the caravan is every bit it's equal (Dan!!?). The recent radio shorts are also pretty good. However, the magic of Alan is missed just slightly in the movie. As is always the case with these crossovers, the cinema transition seems to demand a higher pacing of the comedy along with the more bombastic production generally, and this doesn't really sit well with Alan. You need to be able to watch his every facial expression, and capture every word of his dialogue and just take in the hilarity of his view of the world. Likewise, his supporting characters have all been unique in their own ways, but in this big screen version they have been almost caricatured and stripped of any real wit or supporting merit. Michael is particularly disappointing in this regard but Lynn's involvement is also slightly... pointless and over-the-top when she is used. I found the whole cinema experience a little bit tiresome and that's the first time I've ever said that about anything with Alan Partridge in it. This is a decent film, and fans will find lots to titter at, but I would be surprised if there is anything truly memorable when we look back in a few months time. Even after first watch, there isn't a phrase I can pick out that will stick in my mind, and that's the really disappointing thing. The three-quarters full audience of my cinema in SW London seemed to enjoy it but there were no extended belly laughs - just murmurs of laughter spotted throughout, and one almost sensed that we were all collectively colluding in really wanting this film to be better than it actually was by lending our laughs. I'll give it another try on the small screen and perhaps my mind will change but until then, and after first watch, this is a slightly disappointing 6/10.

Having managed to sit through this drivel to the end in the hope that it might improve (it didn't) my only comment is that I'm surprised that Steve Coogan, who is someone I have always found clever and amusing, agreed to put his name to this travesty. 3/10 is being generous. The major problem is the extremely poor script, lacking any wit or subtlety, weak and uninspired direction and a totally wasted cast. The main players do a fair job with the awful material, but the leaden script, uninspired directing and lack of pace or much a story line means that the project is totally doomed. The worst night I have spent in a cinema for many years.

When I first discovered the premise of Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa, which is a siege of the North Norfolk Digital building by a disgruntled former employee, I was concerned that, like many big screen adaptations, Alan Partridge was departing from its humble, unspectacular roots. By half way into the film, my concerns had unfortunately been confirmed. There are gun shots, fire-extinguishers to the face, explosions, armed policeman; it is by no means an action film, but since when was there such commotion in Alan's life? It was the desperate loneliness, alienation and banality of Alan's life in the original TV series that made audiences laugh and cringe while pitying and sometimes despising the pathetic central character. When I got home completely deflated after watching Alpha Papa, I reminded myself of just how good Alan could be by watching YouTube clips of the 1997 series. A single five minute scene of Alan attending a funeral captured the essence of the character. The dialogue is so rich, almost every line provided a laugh and I was cringing at Alan's complete and utter social ineptitude. Throughout the series you learn Alan's behaviour, it doesn't take one long to know when Alan has an agenda; he is so self-centred, immature and incredibly tactless that the viewer can read him like a book. It's both amusing and toe-curlingly embarrassing to see Alan converse with people and deal with his many problems. All of the subtlety and character study is missing in the film. Alan is no longer a sad-man, a complete liability. He's still cringe-worthy, particularly in scenes where he attempts to court a colleague, but none of the gags even scrape the surface of the programme's brilliance. The gags are really quite tired. They're predictable and rehashed, particularly scenes that initially appear melodramatic but are then abruptly interrupted by an action or one-liner like a needle scratching across vinyl. There's also a genre-aware armed stand-off scene towards the end where the characters have 'humourous', flippant exchanges despite the immediate danger in an 'In Bruges' fashion, only not funny. More than once I found myself sighing with disappointment and embarrassment at just how off-the-mark and rehashed the comedy was. Just like the film's premise, Coogan's performance is overblown, he needed to reel himself in. There would be flashes of classic Partridge, but generally both the dialogue and slapstick comedy just died. I commend Coogan's skill for miming perfectly to Roachford's 'Cuddly Toy', however it just wasn't as funny as his air bass performance of Gary Numan's 'Music for Chameleons' in the second series. Also, Alan doesn't look right in the film. His appearance is still demonstrably uncool, however he isn't as awfully square and repellent as he was in the series. If anything, Alan's ageing process seems to be in reverse. The two principal characters of the programme, Lynn, Alan's devoted and criminally underpaid secretary, and Michael, Alan's good natured friend, seldom appear in the film. These characters were crucial in the series as they revealed many facets of Alan's personality, exposing just how self-absorbed and manipulative he is whilst also showing how utterly dependent he is on their attention. We have the original team of Coogan and Iannucci, however it lacks almost every element that made the series so funny, eminently quotable and re-watchable. It shares very little in common with its televisual sibling, all Alpha Papa has is a caricature of a caricature and a thin, boring siege plot.

I went to see this with some friends on the day it came out. As a Partridge fan you will not be disappointed. The film contains all the best characters from the TV Series and Steve Coogan's brilliance as Alan just made the film so funny. There are constant one liners, looks, expressions, silly voices almost every minute. Everyone in the cinema was laughing out loud throughout the full 90 minutes. There is also a great sound track and lots of familiar tunes and the scene during the credits will have you laughing throughout. Excellent film go and see it even if you are not a Alan Partridge/Steve Coogan fan because it is a generally funny film.

There have been numerous movie versions of popular British TV series over the years. And the results have by and large not been good. Most of the time, they seem to go on holiday. At the very least, they always make the story 'more cinematic'. They involve the sitcom characters in a larger than life story. Or they go to Spain. I've never understood the logic of this approach, as the sitcoms are popular in the first place for being about a particular small-scale situation. Once the characters are transported out of this, a crucial part of what makes them work in the first place is lost. I can't help but think that film-makers continually mis-read the public on this point. What we want in a film version of a loved TV show is more of the same but for 90 minutes as opposed to 30. This leads on to Alan Partridge. 'I'm Alan Partridge' was in my opinion one of the funniest TV series ever devised. In particular the first season was comedy gold from start to finish. So, what of the movie version? On the whole it was pretty funny but it did feel the need to incorporate a 'big story' into the narrative. Again, this makes no real sense, seeing as Alan himself is so very amusing because he is a mediocre TV presenter who lives in a realistic world. The humour comes out of the fact that his situations are believable and mundane. In this film the writers have felt the need to involve him at the centre of an armed siege and he gets involved in life or death situations. In a similar way to the 'Are You Being Served?' team going to the Costa del Sol for a group holiday, this story is not true to the character and doesn't really play to his strengths. The storyline is overall a little lame and it awkwardly fits in important characters from the series like Michael and Lynn – both of whom aren't very well used. Partridge himself is funny – very funny at times – but even he isn't really on top form, simply because the writing isn't as good as the TV series. Steve Coogan is always worth watching though and anything with Partridge is as well so the movie is worth seeing if you are a fan of either. It's still a good enough comedy but just pales a bit considering the quality of the TV show and the unnecessarily unPartridge-like story-line. So, overall it's pretty funny but like all cinematic versions of British TV series, a little frustrating overall; although in fairness, it's one of the better attempts but probably only due to the genius of the Partridge character.

Have to say, this is the funniest film I've seen in a fair few years now. I'm a massive Partridge fan but these cinema outings for TV characters can fall on their face... this didn't... I dragged the wife along who's NOT a fan and even she had tears in her eyes laughing her head off... whole screening was packed and everyone loving it. If you DON'T like Partridge, you won't like this... simple as that... however if you do, be ready for a fantastic film. Fair play to Coogen and the writers... to keep the character fresh after 20+ years... and then base a whole film at a radio station for 90+ minutes and entertain, that takes some writings. Go watch... you will not be disappointed and it's Partridge at his BEST!

source: Alan Partridge

While I have a bazillion reviews to my credit here on IMDb, I must tell you up front that I am not the best person to be reviewing this movie. This is because I have never seen the TV series on which this film is based and I am not particularly familiar with Steve Coogan. So, unlike many viewers, this is my first time and I cannot compare the movie with the show. The film begins with some corporate folks coming to the radio station where Alan (Coogan) works. They are there to make changes and he and the staff are pretty scared. It appears that Alan is the big change and he's going to be let go. But, being a weasel, he manages to focus their attention on someone else--Pat Farrell (Colm Meaney). However, when Pat is instead fired, he loses it and goes on a shooting spree. He also takes a bunch of hostages and it's up to Alan to try to help the police to get the folks out alive. However, being a weasel, he also hopes to gain a lot of attention for himself and thus improve his ratings! In fact, as the film progresses, you really see that this is Partridge's #1 goal. This movie is a very funny and EXTREMELY dark comedy. Such topics are usually NOT the basis for a comedy and the film manages to tackle a sick topic like this and still make it very watchable. However, at times, the film does have a few lulls--not serious ones but the pacing could have been just a bit better. Worth seeing--especially if you like your humor pitch black in tone.

"I'm trying to save your head, shoulders, knees and toes." Alan Partridge (Coogan) is a famous DJ who works for a station that has just been bought out. When rumors about firings begin to swirl his friend and co-worker Pat Farrell (Meaney) thinks he is on the list so he does the only reasonable thing, he takes the station hostage. It is up to his friend Alan to defuse the situation, but things don't go as planned. I have never seen him do this character before so I was sure what to expect from this. Almost immediately I was laughing and that continued throughout the movie. There is quite a bit of British humor in this but it is more main stream American then say a Monty Python or Shaun Of The Dead is. Coogan is great in this and I wouldn't hate if they made more movies with this character. The easiest way to describe this is like a British Anchorman with the constant over the top antics and the make-it- up-as-you-go feel. This isn't a movie for everyone but I really thought it was funny and I recommend this. Overall, very funny movie, I really liked it a lot, but again it's not a comedy for everyone. I give this a B+.

Steve Coogan is one funny guy; he really is funny. He has this quirky sense of humour that is rare. His comedy can range from dry to outrageous. And in regards to this film you see all the variations. It's almost constant; one liners, funny voices,crazy faces, witty remarks, smart references. It is an enjoyable story which shows how something as simple as a dj's grievance over losing his job can create a barrage of laughs. Yes, it isn't Coogan's best work, but was good to see Alan Partridge in a motion picture. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good laugh and doesn't mind a bit of silly comedy.