The Boys in Blue

source: The Boys in Blue

The Boys in Blue

I saw this not long after it was released, and I was already a fan of the early 80's TV show. The film involves two police officers, long-time friends, who are in charge of keeping the peace in a sleepy seaside town, Little Botham, that ordinarily is peaceful enough on its own. While one (Tommy Cannon), is a by-the-book true copper, the other (Bobby Ball), prefers moonlighting at the local petrol station/convenience store (he sees police work as his sideline to primarily being shopkeeper). When a mysterious new-comer takes up residence on a farm (replete with barn) in Little Botham, soon after a string of high-profile art heists, Cannon & Ball's rusty cop gears start turning. They'll stop at absolutely nothing to crack the case!

Yes, I'm giving it 6 out of 10. I know it's not a classic in British cinema like the likes of Hawk the Slayer and Time Bandits but it's exactly what you would expect it to be. Tommy Cannon and Bobby Ball making you laugh in a movie that is both ridiculous and achingly funny. The gags and set pieces and innuendos come thick and fast. Bobby Ball as the inept PC come Shopkeeper is just superb. The supporting cast of top British comedians of the time make up the typical 'ooh i say' feel of the classic British comedy. A favourite of mine and my sister's video collections it is now available on DVD in the UK. Haven't seen it advertised but I got mine from a local high street retailer for about a tenner. Buy it and enjoy.

Cannon and Ball is excellent funny men from time ago. How I laugh at their gurnery. One of them (Ball) went to the jungle and my how me make me laugh whilst watching this old film. He is truly great in the veins of other greats like Albert Stepped toe and Billy Crystal. GThe laughs never stop as policemen pratfalling whilst capturing the bad figures- I love their their sense of justice and vengeance, combined with funny end of your peers laughter. The absolute volume of laughs in this film truly makes me bleed. They are great atists painting funny funny moments. I love the ability they have to turn the bureaucratic work of a policemen into a fun filled antic hunt! The greatest laugh I had was when the jungle man fell down a pothole. That was agreed by all to be their best. How I wish these two had many more films in these veins. I would have gone more if I was born when this film was made. All in all a great buy for family! PS they are robots.

The only film made by the UK comedy duo, and like Morecambe & Wise, their films never live up to the comedy they're supposed to!!! However, this low budget british made effort is very good. Based on the classic Will Hay Ask a Policeman film the plot is basically the same, smugglers and two incompetent policemen, namely Cannon and Ball. The laughs are silly and childish, like Carry On... humour but all in all an easy to watch afternoon type movie.

The original version of this film (Will Hay's 'Ask A Policeman) was a classic. This, the remake, wern't as bad as some people said. Starring 80's comedy icons Cannon and Ball, the plot went that the two bungling policemen were in danger of losing their jobs because of the lack of crime in their little town of Little Bottom (pronounced Botham). Until some bad people start to steal a load of pricless paintings. The two start to investigate, even encountering a ufo along the way. I liked this film. I wish i could still get it. (I'm looking around for it but am unable to. If anyone knows where I can get a copy, type to this page, please!!! I will be in your debt!)

This is a truly dreadful film, and must surely constitute great veteran film-maker Val Guest's darkest hour. Terrible predictable dialogue, inept clowning, utterly unfunny. Unfortunately comedy can never be so bad it transcends awfulness (unlike films not intended to be funny, most famously 'Plan 9 from Outer Space'), they either work or they don't. This one was moribund from the start. Even the great duo of Morecambe & Wise never had much success with this type of film project, so imagine the hash the distinctly third rate Cannon and Ball make of things. Unfortunately even the presence of the usually reliable Roy Kinnear can not save this.

I recently bought this film on DVD and it is still as funny as watching the first time in the cinema. A mixture of slapstick and funny lines make this a film that only C&B fans will really appreciate and enjoy, you also get some great brit actors as well such as Roy Kinnear, Eric Sykes, Jack Douglas, Jon Pertwee and Arthur English. It is a remake of the Will Hay movie Ask A Policeman, although I can only vaguely remember the Will Hay version, it is a pretty simple plot to follow. C&B play two hapless policemen in the village of Little Bottom and they are called into some police work when art thieves try to smuggle out some stolen paintings. This will appeal to anyone who grew up in the 80's and enjoyed watching C&B

An appallingly stilted remake of a Will Hay classic (Ask A Policeman) featuring two comedians who look extremely uncomfortable outside the comforts of the TV studio or theatre. Compulsive viewing for anyone wishing to relive the nadir of the British film industry when TV tie-ins were considered a good investment. This film betrays it's limited budget in a number of ways particularly as it has the 'can't afford to wait for a sunny day' syndrome that adds a depressing gloom to so many British movies of this period. No laughs, no fun, nothing.