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 The Parole Officer (DVD)
 The Parole Officer (DVD) ... released 18 March, 2002 at Vision Video Ltd. / Features of the DVD: PAL / Although there are one or two belly laughs along the way, for the most part The Parole Officer gets by on the pleasantly old-fashioned charm of a latter-day Ealing comedy. And despite a handful of gross-out moments (involving a roller coaster at Blackpool, a severed head and a wasp) most of the humour comes from the interaction of a good ensemble cast. It’s the first big-screen vehicle for Steve Coogan, who plays the titular officer as a watered-down, more likeable version of his most famous creation, Alan Partridge. After being set up by a corrupt detective Coogan’s hapless Simon Garden--in fact always identified as a Probation Officer, so presumably the film’s title is an attempt to attract a transatlantic audience--must recruit a motley gang of his ex-con clients to plan and execute a bank robbery in Manchester. Indeed, one of the film’s principal attractions is its affectionate use of that city centre as a setting instead of the more usual seedy London locations of most British caper-comedies.Coogan’s gang are a familiarly dysfunctional bunch, redeemed by sympathetic performances from, notably, Om Puri as irascible serial bigamist George and the young Emma Williams as serial car thief Kirsty. Not enough effort goes into fleshing out the characters, though, and in particular Lena Headey as Coogan’s policewoman girlfriend is far too thinly sketched to seem convincing. However, much fun is had by all as the team bond, bicker and construct, A Team-style, the tools they need for the big heist. The bank raid itself is the film’s highlight and features a surprising deus ex machina appearance from a very distinguished guest star. If The Parole Officer never stretches to the sublime heights (or psychological depths) of I’m Alan Partridge, it does play out in a brisk 90 minutes like an extended episode of Coogan’s Run; which is to say it’s got plenty of easygoing charm even if it never pushes any boundaries. On the DVD: the handful of extra features include a surprisingly serious commentary from Coogan, cowriter Henry Normal, director John Duigan and producer Duncan Kenworthy. More interesting is the handful of deleted scenes, in which we find that some precious character development was sacrificed in the interests of pace (as well as a couple of perfectly good jokes). There's a 22-minute featurette, which isn't really a "making of" but just a series of interviews with the principal cast, plus the trailer and Atomic Kitten's "Eternal Flame" video. The picture is a good anamorphic (16:9) ratio with Dolby 5.1 sound. --Mark WalkerNewest Review: ... own Steve Coogan (best know as Alan Partridge - the jerk of a DJ on BBC2) and it was co written by him too. It is not ... more ... brilliant, but it is great, in the sense that it does not let you down and remains pretty original through out.
Simon Garden (Coogan) is a probation officer not too good at his job. His current client is persistent offender Kirsty and she is up on a drug and motoring charge. She claims to be guilty of the motoring offence, but the not the possession of Class A drugs one. Simon believes her and when he discusses this with Detective in charge of the case, Inspector Burton, the policeman looks as though he is hiding something,...more |
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Price Comparison for The Parole Officer (DVD)
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The Parole Officer [DVD] [2001]
Although there are one or two belly laughs along the way, for the ... Last Update 28.11.2009 05:47
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£ 4.98 |
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The Parole Officer (DVD): Steve Coogan and the Lavender Hill Mob (444 words)
by - written on 15/08/02 (Very useful, 47 readings)
Rating:
In the grandest tradition of the Ealing comedy, Steve Coogan's only film feature to date (as far as I am aware), The Parole Officer is a true classic of the genre, combining aspects of The Lavender Hill Mob, The Lady Killers and The League of Gentlemen and updating it with a swish injection of the cynicism of the Millennium. All of Coogan's other work to date has been for the box, and he has created some phenomenally grim characters, like Paul and Pauline Calf, Gareth Cheeseman and the truly awful Alan Partridge (Ah-ha). He normally writes with Henry Normal (or Fat Bob from the Calf series, played by John Thomson) and The Parole Officer allows their ... Read the complete review
Thumbs up for the Marmite man this time! (1068 words)
by - written on 29/03/02 (Very useful, 139 readings)
Rating:
The Parole officer stars Steve Coogan, or as I like to think of him, the marmite man. Why? Well it's not so much that you love or hate the actor, but more that you love or hate his character creations. Perhaps even more so, you love to hate his creations. Alan Partridge was a monster, but ultimately viewable. Paul Calf summed up all that was wrong with mankind, but he made you snigger. Tony Ferrino, well let's forget that one shall we, perhaps Coogan had been drinking when he created him. For these reasons I was a bit sceptical about seeing this film, but I was pleasantly surprised, here's what I thought. Cast/Characters Steve Coogan ... Read the complete review
The Parole Officer (DVD): In the grandest tradition of Ealing comedy (832 words)
by - written on 31/10/01 (Very useful, 91 readings)
Rating:
According to Steve Coogan this is "unarguably the greatest film ever" and, you know, he might actually be somewhere near the truth there ... it's certainly one of the funniest films I've seen in the last year or so, and well worth checking out. Alternatively, his alter ego Paul Calf terms it "a bag of shite", so there's no accounting for taste... I saw it in the most unpromising of circumstances - stuck on an 8 hour cross channel ferry with a strident Mrs D and a couple of extremely bored dave27-ettes on the way back home at the end of a week's holiday in Brittany. I watched it in the on board cinema on the Brittany Ferry to ... Read the complete review
coogans bluff (740 words)
by - written on 06/09/01 (Very useful, 27 readings)
Rating:
I usually only go to the cinema when there is something on that interests me, but I was at a loose end yesterday and decided to go. Being a fan of Steve Coogan I opted for this film, and paid my hard earned money... Overview. Steve Coogan, best known for his creation of the Norwich radio 'star' Alan Partridge heads this film directed by John Duigan. The basic plot follows that Simon Garden (Coogan) is a parole officer, who is pretty much unliked in the workplace. He is forced to move to Manchester to continue his career and becomes caught up through a client in a gang of bent coppers. As a witness to a murder, he is ... Read the complete review
The Parole Officer (DVD): Lock Stock Carry On Partridge... (441 words)
by - written on 03/09/01 (Very useful, 40 readings)
Rating:
For a self confessed Alan addict, going to see the Steve Coogan film 'The parole Officer' was a heaven sent gift. I rarely get out to the cinema, so when I do go, it has to be to see a worthwhile film. Perhaps something that will ensure film clips replaying in my mind over and over after the event. Particularly whilst doing something mundane causing mild, half stiffled giggles. The film follows a band of Ex-parole Officer counselled people coming together to help their ex-Parole officer out of a ridiculous situation involving bribery, blackmail and double dealing. Their aim is to rob a bank for evidence to prove The Parole Officer's ... Read the complete review
The Parole Officer (DVD) : coogans blufffrom jizztrap
06/09/2001
The Parole Officer (DVD) : Lock Stock Carry On Partridge...from RachyUK
03/09/2001
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