Starring; Steve Coogan, Colm Meaney, Tim Key
Alan Partridge (Coogan) hosts his own programme on the digital radio station, North Norfolk Digital (formerly Radio Norwich) with Sidekick Simon (Key). With North Norfolk Digital being sold off to a media group looking to rebrand the station as Shape, a choice needs to be made on what DJ to drop. Either Partridge, or long-time night-time presenter, Pat Farrell (Meany). When Alan catches wind of this, he convinces the new management to show Pat the door. Later that night, Pat comes back brandishing a shotgun having gone into a complete breakdown. With the station now the scene of a hostage situation, Alan is called upon as a negotiator giving him the fame that he craves.
After years of speculation, Steve Coogan and Armando Ianucci's (mostly) TV-based character of Alan Partridge is finally up on screen in Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa. Those familiar with the TV series Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge and particularly I'm Alan Partridge might find a film adventure for Alan a little strange, given that the character works better in the smaller scale traditionally associated with TV, given much if the humour derives from the mundane conflicts that make up Alan's life and quest for celebrity. However, as odd as the idea and plot seems for Partridge, it works extraordinarily well. The humour's pitch-perfect, helped by how amazingly well-rounded the character of Alan Partridge is and Coogan's confidence in the role, which he's played on-and-off for around twenty years. The film's strengths are also supported by other familiar faces such as Felicity Montagu as Alan's meek and long-suffering PA, Lynn and Simon Greenall as Alan's unhinged Geordie accomplice, Michael. The film is pretty light on dramatic material. There's a love interest (played by Monica Dolan) who's occasionally given some attention and Colm Meaney (perhaps best remembered by Star Trek fans for his lengthy stint as Miles O'Brien in The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine) seemingly having the time of his life playing a somewhat sympathetic antagonist. End to end, the film not only delivers a lot of laughs but very loud ones and is a must-see, especially for fans of the Partridge.
Next time: Armie Hammer dons the black mask with Johnny Depp in tow for Gore Verbinski's film adaptation of The Lone Ranger.
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