Comedy

THE INBETWEENERS 2 (2014)

37443

“Is this proper travelling?”

“Yes”

How does a series turn into a film and then another film and keep the funny alive? The 2nd film in a journey that saw 3 highly successful tv series from the BBC, sees our titular heroes journey to Australia and chaos ensues.

Bants.

Simon Bird, James Buckley, Blake Harrison and Joe Thomas return as Will, Jay, Neil and Simon, three years after the first film; Will and Simon now at University, Neil working in a bank and Jay is in Australia, claiming he has the place locked down so, bored, the three decide to surprise him with a visit.

Sure, this film is puerile and trades in scatalogica and bodily fluids which are usually cheap ways to get a laugh, but where writers/directors Damon Beesley and Iain Morris come out on top is the brilliant chemistry the four boys have combined with the very funny script. The comic timing is key and the boys deliver in spades.

Emily Berrington is on tease duties as a beautiful, entitled, public school girl who Will bumps into and ends up following around Oz. Freddie Stroma plays the trustafarian with aplomb, making him the perfect antagonist for Will.

There was a moment where the four are in the outback and I had a flash of Mick from Wolf Creek turning up and thought how much I’d be up for the four getting trapped by him and being scared shitless before getting the better of the serial killing bastard. I would definitely watch that.
“The Inbetweeners go to Wolf Creek”. C’mon, surely they can make that happen. That would be a mash-up I’d see.

I laughed out loud a lot during this film, a lot more than the spate of American comedy films of late. This is a film for the fans, but you could easily watch it without having seen any of the previous series or film and you are more than likely have a lot of fun.

Whether you’re a convert or new recruit you’ll enjoy this if you’re up for a laugh.

3.8/5

BUY THE BLU RAY DVD HERE

DOWNLOAD THE FILM ON iTUNES HERE

THE SKELETON TWINS (2014)

hr_The_Skeleton_Twins_Poster_0

Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig, two very funny comedians, come together to star as estranged twins in this dark comedy drama. Although the emphasis is on drama, it’s really not their usual fare and I welcome it.

Having not spoken for 10 years, Milo and Maggie Dean (Hader and Wiig) are reunited when a failed suicide brings them back together. They get reacquainted and realise, even with the difficulties between them, that they are stronger and better together.

Suicide, infidelity, a desperate longing for an old love, plain old unhappiness and dissatisfaction with the lot life has given them is rife in the twins’ world and their relationships with their parents plays a big role.

This film does not break the bank of innovation but remains a charming, heartfelt indie film. Craig Johnson direct his second feature and wrote it with Mark Heyman who also wrote the screenplay for Black Swan. The brothers Duplass, Mark and Jay, were on board as executive producers.

It must be said that Hader and Wiig show great dramatic chops and I’m sure we’ll see more of them given a chance to do more. Support comes in the form of Luke Wilson and Ty Burrell, both creating interesting roles. Joanna Gleason is suitably spiky and passive aggressive as the mother of the twins.

This gentle, intimate film is worth a look, not too long and great if you like the actors, who both do a great job.

PRE-ORDER THE DVD HERE

DOWNLOAD THE FILM ON iTUNES HERE

3/5