Thursday 30 April 2009

At The Pictures: In The Loop

Saw this big screen spin-off of the superb The Thick Of It the other day. Can’t remember the last time I laughed so much at a modern comedy film – it was possibly South Park: Bigger Longer Uncut.

It’s essentially about the run up to the invasion of Iraq, though it never uses that country’s name, and how a government minister gets spun into the debate against his will. As a piece of satire it doesn’t really have much new to say, though the observations of how British politicians turn into slightly embarrassing fan boys when meeting their American counterparts were great – the Minister and his aide riding in a limo going “this is fucking cool” and calling their mates to brag about it. Where the film excels is in its use of language. The insults are so innovatively aggressive; from pub banter up to Ministerial meetings. Anyone who says that swearing isn’t 'big' or 'clever' really needs to see it.

Special mention go out to the character of Jamie, who’s beckoned into the picture with a flourish almost deserving of pantomime, raising a cheer in the hearts of anyone who enjoyed his ‘iPod rant’ from the Thick Of It special; Rise Of The Nutters.



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