In The Loop (James Gandolfini, Chris Addison) : Movie Review
December 9, 2009 by Sean Lynch
Filed under Movie Reviews, Movies
Much like the “Chicken Or The Egg” quandry, one has to wonder – in movie land – which came first, In The Loop or Working Dog’s political TV series The Hollowmen?
This excellent BBC Films comedy follows the turbulent goings on inside the offices that run the world at a time when both the US President and UK Prime Minister fancy themselves a bit of a war.
The US General Miller (an, as always, out of breath James Gandolfini) isn’t too keen on the idea, neither is the British Secretary of State for International Development, Simon Foster (Pirates Of The Caribbean’s Tom Hollander).
However, after Simon accidentally backs military action on TV and radio, he is thrust into a political shit storm which feeds (and is largely created by) the media and publicity departments of both sides.
In The Loop : Tony Soprano Bustin' Balls
While consistently entertaining, In The Loop does seem very much like a six part comedy series sewn together, therefore does occasionally feel a little chubby either side of the main plot (with tangents that, realistically, would better suit being Episodes three or four into a season in TV land… but make a feature film lag).
Whether this means films are getting worse, or TV is simply getting better is completley up to you to decide.
Some great turns from Gandolfini (fresh from nose breathing his way through Where The Wild Things Are), Steve Coogan and spindly UK comedian Chris Addison (who I vividly remember going to see at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival a few years back… he wore a white suit… and talked of travel) keeps the laughs and tension moving forward at an equal pace.
Definately check it out if you are a fan of political satire, but don’t expect much more than you would get sitting back on the couch with a cuppa watching Rob Sitch play “Dumb Boss” again.
WATCH OUT FOR
The return of My Girl‘s Anna Chlumsky… it seems she has finally come to terms with the death of poor Thomas J (who, we all know, was stung to death by a swarm of bees… he was allergic to them, you know!).
WATCH OUT FOR | RATING : 3.5 / 5