The Inbetweeners Movie? Well, check your prudishness in at the ticket desk and make sure to bring your wellies, as you’ll be knee-deep in ‘clunge’ jokes and naughty slapstick humour. The lovable quartet of randy English teens are back and gracing a considerably larger screen in this feature film of the popular E4 comedy.
Reluctant friends Will, Simon, Jay and Neil go on a ‘whatever-the-equivalent-of-the-English-Leaving-Cert-is holiday’ to Malia, a cheesy clubbing resort in Crete that I’m now glad I never went to. So, just finished their exams and on the prowl for erm… love… the lads embark on an alcohol-fueled adventure fraught with fights, nudity, quadbikes, nudity, angry reps, tears, nudity and a big-ass boat party that would make the members of Lonely Island proud – and in there, somewhere, they even find the time for a smidgeon of bonding and self development.
Actually, there’s a surprising amount of warmth for a film in which one third of the scenes feature someone vomiting; and deep underneath all those vagina jokes is a touching tale of male friendship and coming-of-age romance.
Director Ben Palmer obviously had quite a bit of fun with the extra budget. The camera angles are pimped out to the max, with crane shots, CG, and sexy slo-mo sequences making damn sure we’re aware it’s a film and not an elongated episode of the TV series.
Speaking of which, an encyclopedic knowledge of the TV show isn’t a prerequisite; the premise is pretty simple and the script isn’t overly laden with self-references. There’s a decent plot and a consistently funny barrage of jokes – so as long as you don’t bring your mum/granny/priest with you to see it, or are expecting a subtext-laden sequel to Atonement – you should get your money’s worth!
Gemma Creagh
Rated 16 The Inbetweeners Movie is released on 19th August 2011
