The World's End, Promised Land and Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa

I'm afraid it didn't work, Simon Pegg playing such a horrible character was just not funny. He can play endearing, smart, cocky, or whatever pleasant guy you can imagine that you would like to spend time with. But horrible? No. The concept of The World's End was brilliant, the reprise of the pub crawl before splitting up and going their separate ways. And for the first few pubs, we got the message. But it couldn't hold us under it's spell, and I tired of the repetition. There were some funny bits, but a fantastic cast were wasted on a poor script. Such a shame after the wonderful "Shawn of the Dead" and even better "Hot Fuzz". The only note of interest was the location that had me wondering straight away. Welwyn or Letchworth Garden Cities? In the "end" it was both.

With the first major demonstration in the UK against fracking taking place, it was interesting to see a drama about what is happening in the USA. The Promised Land's main characters are not at all likeable. Matt Damon and Frances McDormand work for the nasty corporation that wants them to sign up a rural community to use their land for exploration by any means possible. When an sole environmentalist shows up, the battle for and against fracking commences. It is just a little unfortunate that the twist at the end is such a big indictment of corporate greed, that the argument loses it's place. This is obviously a debate close to the heart of Damon, but emergency director Gus Van Sant seems to just point the camera and let's another excellent cast work it out. a strange choice for Wednesday Senior Screen, but at least we had a proper drama with a proper story, even though the dialogue at times could have been better.

What a surprise was Alan Partidge: Alpha Papa. This was the funniest film I have seen for ages. When I think back, the writing is not particularly witty, but the context and delivery was superb. I don't think I have ever watched any of the TV series, but I found Steve Coogan's character far less embarrassing or repellent as say Ricky Gervais in The Office. Instead I found Partridge almost endearing, certainly smart and cocky. It is just that his big mouth runs away in directions he cannot control, and he is most definitely a wimp. But a very funny one. The movie is filled with character actors we have seen so often on British TV. There has been no pandering to youth or America. Three cheers for that. What we have is a slice of small town England in all it's humble yet constantly amusing situation. The cast deliver their lines with a deadpan exasperation as the one man siege of North Norfolk Digital takes hold. Colm Meaney is a great foil for Coogan, with just the touch of menace his otherwise otherwise pathetic character deserves. And the soundtrack has to be heard to be believed. Even the Ski Sunday theme work's it way in.