This is a glossy, holiday programme version of Smith and England's stage classic. Opening it out to include scenes in airports, and around the island of Ibiza, means that some of the claustrophobic intensity of the play is lost, but the script is indestructable and provides plenty of laughs. Clive Owen and Martin Clunes are good, but Andy Taylor and Nick Hancock in the stage original were better. Caroline Quentin is great, as ever, and Lizzy McInnerny battles with a rogue accent throughout. The slight disappointment is Paul Merton, not much of an actor, who doesn't get the most out of a role originally created by co-author Chris England on the stage.
Even so, this is a pretty good stab at filming a perennial favourite play. The characters are funny, the ending is still great, and Lineker himself appears for good measure. Recommended.
Even so, this is a pretty good stab at filming a perennial favourite play. The characters are funny, the ending is still great, and Lineker himself appears for good measure. Recommended.