Like a kid waiting for Christmas I got a bit excited by the release of the Inbetweeners movie. When I ordered my ticket a little bit of wee might have actually come out. It seems I wasn't alone as this became the UK's number 1 film on its opening night. But is this another Kevin and Perry or can it live up to the hype?
Like Kevin and Perry Goes Large it is a film version of a successful TV show (OK I know K&P were characters from a sketch on the Harry Enfield Show but it’s almost the same thing right?). The Inbetweeners was a painfully funny insight into the lives of four teenage boys struggling through the usual trials of school. Narrated by speccy oddball and briefcase carrying geek Will (Simon Bird) it also featured serial bulshitter and wannabe ladies man Jay (James Buckley), gullible but loyal Neil (Blake Harrison) and the love struck everyman Simon (Joe Thomas).
For those of you that have never seen the series I suggest you watch it! But only if you find the following things funny: public humiliation, knob jokes, poo jokes, masturbation jokes, anything to do with anything smutty or puerile or disgusting basically! Where the series really succeeds is showing likeable characters struggling with the everyday ordeal of wanting to be popular in school. The movie picks up where the series left off. The four friends leave school, still unpopular, still socially awkward, but about to go on a lad’s holiday.
The storyline is minimal which in my mind turned out to be a good thing. Too often I have watched comedies and thought the laughs dried up at the expense of the writers feeling the need to tell us some kind of story. I couldn't give a crap what happens to the main character's uncle’s bloody window cleaner! I don't care if their story arc comes to a happy ending! I just want to see them say/do/be the victim of something funny. Thankfully the Inbetweeners doesn't waste much time with such pointless endeavours, except for a very convenient ending which did seem like too much of a crowd pleaser. It gets straight into the expected toilet humour and thankfully stays right down there in the gutter for the duration.
I hope I have made it clear that this is not the film to watch if you are looking for subtle humour. For example the first time we see Jay he is settling down for a good time with his laptop, a glove, a pack of ham and a snorkel! Need I say more? There were a couple of scenes that some of my fellow cinema goers found a little close to the bone, producing more groans that laughs. If you are easily offended then you should stay away from this! If however you want to be thoroughly entertained by a film that rarely lets up in the gags from start to finish then you don't need me to tell you to watch this, you have probably seen it a few times already.
One final thing, Neil doing shots almost made me cry!
8/10
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