Monday, 12 September 2011 The Inbetweeners Movie (Simon Bird, Joe Thomas, James Buckley, Blake Harrison) Posted by joeldfisher at 08:45

Ah to be 17 again, to be out partying with your friends, kissing girls (and other such things) and generally loving life. For those who remember this time in your lives all too clearly, these days will never be forgotten although as time goes by the tint in your glasses will get much rosier, thank goodness for The Inbetweeners.

For those who don't know the popular British Channel 4 comedy series of the same name, Will, Jay, Neil and Simon are four teenage boys whose lives are currently at an crossroads in their lives. They're old enough to smoke and to legally to have sex, but they have two problems, they're not really sure they like smoking and, well, nobody in their right minds would sleep with them. Will (Simon Bird) is a bookish nerd who wants to pass himself off as an intellectual who only really has one thought, how to get a woman to like him. Simon (Joe Thomas) is obsessed with a girl he's known since he was a kid and believes they are destined to be together. Jay (James Buckley) is a typical jack-the-lad, always boasting to his friends about his sexual conquests, if only they were true, and Neil (Blake Harrison) is stupid. Together the four of them give the audience a rather vivid, all too familiar and often cringe worthy account of what it really was like when you were only 17.

The movie kicks off with an even briefer synopsis and throws the audience right into it all as it's the last day of school and their adult lives beckon. So there's only one thing to do, live it large where the party never stops, for about a week anyway.

Once the lads arrive at their destination they realise that it's not all that it's cracked up to be. Their accommodation is less than standard and the locals (and some of the holidaymakers) are a little strange for their tastes. But when you're on holiday you make the best of it and that they do. After being coaxed into an empty bar by a woman Jay is convinced he'll have as much fun with as all his other (fictional) conquests then the fun begins.

The casting of the boy's female counterparts and potential girlfriends is a really well made choice as they balance out the main cast quite well. Alison (Laura Haddock) is the main attraction as Will's easy going love interest who overwhelms him with the idea that she might actually be interested in him. Lucy (Tamla Kari) plays very well against Simon as he pines over the loss of his long-time love Carly. Jane (Lydia Rose Bewley) does the funny, fat friend well but also brings warmth and believability when partnered against Jay and finally Lisa (Jessica Knappet) is the perfect coupling for Neil, and not just because she is probably the only actress they could find that looks like she may actually be related to Neil.

The sun is shining and the drink is flowing free but there's that all too familiar tinge of embarrassing behaviour that many may remember from being that age and also from the TV series of the same name. While the movie could have been seen as another Holiday On The Busses, Kevin and Perry Go Large or even Mr Bean's Holiday, The Inbetweeners Movie doesn't stray from the comedy styling that has made the TV series so popular. There's no compromise on the character's behaviour (if anything Jay's opening scene pushes the envelope on anything they did on the television) and the audience are never felt cheated into watching something that has a name slapped on it that never lives up to its namesake.

This isn't the British American Pie, this is better, there are real characters in there and by the end of the movie not only do you feel like you know them better (as fans or non-fans of the series) but you can properly feel like you can wave them goodbye safe in the knowledge that a fitting end has been made to one of the 21st Century's best and brightest British comedies.