Steve Coogan’s venerable Alan Partridge character gets the feature film treatment in a film creatively titled Alan Partridge. It is not difficult to see why the character has lasted so long: he’s a fascinating idiot. Five writers, including Coogan, get credit here, but Coogan gets extra credit for delivering a spot on performance as the obliviously egotistical Partridge.
We find Partridge in a second-rate radio station working as a mid-morning DJ. A big corporation swoops in to buy the station bearing a strategy they post on the walls as “own the middle.” Before you know it, layoffs are in the air. Partridge is on the block but he sells a fellow DJ down the river (played by Colm Meaney). Meaney reacts by taking the station hostage. Because he incorrectly believes Partridge fought for him, Meaney wants Partridge to be the intermediary with the police. Partridge goofs things up wildly as he tries to use the hostage siege as an opportunity to get his face back on television.
I’m fairly certain that you need no background with the Partridge character to enjoy this. The writers throw a few jabs at corporate media, but the film doesn’t have terribly sharp elbows. It’s mainly a comedy of errors. That’s not to say it isn’t witty – it is. Many of the jokes are subtle. But it’s also humor that can appeal widely. Excellent performance from Coogan and solid writing. The supporting cast does well playing comedic straight men. Very funny.
Screened in the theater, but you can also see it in the U.S. on VOD by clicking the picture above.
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