THE MOVIE
Alan Partridge (no relation) is a great representation of a good old fashioned British farce. An exaggerated, clueless character (Steve Coogan’s Partridge, a famous local radio DJ) pitted into an improbable situation, in this case a hostage and police siege due to an angry former co-worker (played by Colm Meaney) returning with a shotgun after learning of his imminent sacking. Farce and fury collide, comedy ensues. Alan Partridge (or Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa as it was marketed overseas) plays this premise well. A digital conglomerate has bought the station and wants to reduce costs and bring in a younger audience. Hence the sacking of older DJs. Partridge sensing danger throws his colleague Pat onto the sacrificial bonfire (unbeknownst to Pat) to save his own hide. A furious Pat, played with the aplomb you would expect from Colm Meaney (Far and Away, Star Trek:DS9, The Damned United) returns to take hostages and seek reemployment and ironically, only trusts his “friend” Alan to function as negotiator with the police. Our failed former TV star now working on local radio in a sleepy region in the North of England has a chance to reenter the limelight.
Watching this bumbling man thrown into the middle of a serious, potentially lethal incident and how he tries to not only wheedle his way out of trouble but also turn it to the advantage of his career is cringing and brilliantly entertaining at the same time. In a way, the film touches on satire, spoofing radio DJs, the banality of their monologues as well as the very nature of celebrity itself. Going from a BBC chat show to someone opening local grocery stores has created an intriguing character that hilariously maintains a massive ego that collides with this situation. As Shaun of the Dead is a funny British take on Dawn of the Dead, Alan Partridge‘s equivalent would be Dog Day Afternoon.
Partridge is a self-absorbed man but one who is so clueless and peculiar you cannot help but cheer him on. Most of the other cast play it straight; everything stems from the reactions and overreactions of Alan. Its not just situation-based comedy it is a showcase for this creation. This buffoonery being at its best when played against the gruff and angry Pat. Punchlines, bizarre but eminently quotable lines, and a bit of slapstick liven things up. The film offers Partridge somewhat of a redemptive arc to claw his way out of his celebrity exile and it is interesting to see the cogs at work processing self-interest vs. doing the right thing.
The man behind this creation is Steve Coogan, know for Night at the Museum, Hamlet 2 and The Trip. Most recently, however, for his more dramatic turn and numerous award nominations for his work (writing and acting) on the outstanding Philomena (see my review here). The co-creator/writer of this and previous Partridge outings is one Armando Iannucci who also created the political satire TV series The Thick of It which, along with some new American cast members translated into the astoundingly good In the Loop. More recently he is perhaps know for his HBO series, Veep starring Julia-Louise Dreyfuss. Alan Partridge comes with a top pedigree and it shows.
Alan Partridge is a caricature of a quirky Brit. Cringeworthy and unbelievable at times, perhaps reminiscent of the more familiar (in the US at least) David Brent portrayed by Ricky Gervais in The Office. An awkward man who’s idea of a Valentines date is a visit to a “cracking owl sanctuary” followed up by an all you can eat buffet. A man who once told some Irish Gentlemen in regards to the Irish potato famine, “at the end of the day, they will pay the price for being a fussy eater. If they could afford to emigrate, they could afford to eat at a modest restaurant”. Basically, a source of comedy gold.
While the film serves well as a standalone and very approachable effort, his life has unfolded on British TV over the past few decades. We have witnessed him start as a radio and later TV broadcaster (The Day Today), infamously killing a guest on live TV (Knowing Me Knowing You with Alan Partridge), suffering a nervous breakdown (and driving to Dundee barefoot while eating vast quantities of Toblerone), penning an autobiography “Bouncing Back” before embarking on a return to radio (while living in a motel, I’m Alan Partridge). Basically, if you enjoy the film (and you should), there is a plethora of Partridge that awaits you.
THE PACKAGE
The transfer quality is great, as a comedy and somewhat small scale movie there are no sweeping vistas or action scenes to really define the quality, but crisp and clean is what you get. A lot of the film is shot on handheld which only helps when it comes to the more physical/slapstick nature of some scenes. As far as extras go, the Making Of feature interviews several cast and crew members and chronicles the concept of the film, how to appeal to the old fans and yet produce a standalone film that would appeal to those unfamiliar with the character. It also touches on the writing process and use of improvisation during filming. The Behind the Scenes, is an odd addition just with cast and crew footage playing cut to a musical track. Finally, AXS TV: A Look at Alan Partridge is a broad introduction to the character with creator/actor Steve Coogan. With such a wealth of footage and shows involving him I am disappointed they could not incorporate some older footage into the extras to help flesh out Partridge for new viewers but hopefully the film should provide enough incentive for viewers to track it down.
Alan Partridge is a brilliant, witty farcical endeavor. For fans of the show, it gives him a grander stage and (yet another) chance at some redemption and success. For those new to the character, there is much to enjoy. The film is scripted and structured in a way to render any prior knowledge irrelevant. While the premise translates to a movie well, the best parts are still those little character quirks and awkward moments stemming from Partridge himself. Ruddy hilarious.
Alan Partridge arrives on Blu-ray™ and DVD From Magnolia Home Entertainment on June 10th.
OFFICIAL DISC SPECIFICATIONS
Bonus Features Behind the Scenes AXS TV: A Look at Alan Partridge Blu-ray/DVD Basics Price: $29.98 (Blu-ray) / $26.98 (DVD) Street Date: June 10, 2014 Running Time: 90 min. Catalog: 10675 (Blu-ray) / 10674 (DVD) MPAA Rating: R
Language: English