wolfman

your opinions, i am writing an independent study on american-british co-productions and need peoples views on this venture. Do you think that it is a formulaic, unorigional film similar to otehr similar productions. or a masterpiece of romance and comedy?

DB7

The former. A cynically manipulative mid-Atlantic production devoid of soul and drowned in syrup. Was there really any need for the plot to send Michael Marshall's (sp?) character to the US for 30 seconds apart from commercialism? (ditto Billy Bob Thornton's cameo)

Maybe the closest skit to the truth was Bill Nighy's washed out rockstar cashing-in on Xmas with a reworking of Love is All Around. (but Nighy is a pretty fab scene-stealer in most things)

I was a massive fan of Blackadder so that these cliched rom-coms come from the pen of Richard Curtis is still perplexing.

Brian Brandt

Don't pull any punches, DB. Tell us what you really think.

Peter Carter

It shouldn't be, he writ the first series alone.
Ben Elton came in on season 2 and turned the show around.

He's rubbish now as well alas.

DB7

I'd disagree that he turned the show around, Elton was brought in to replace Rowan in the writing dept and many comedies don't hit their peak until later episodes. Only Fools and Horses was another that met with a lukewarm initial reception.

I'm sure it was that Beeb that demanded filming move from location to the studio for financial reasons, but the revalation was darkening Endmund's character.

But there were some great cameos by Peter Cook and Frank Finlay in the 1st series.

mysteriesofedgarwallace

I always refer to this film as "Cack Actually"

Yeeuuccchhh