The Inbetweeners Movie

I have to confess that I am a huge fan of the TV show of which this film is a continuation. Whilst it's often crass or vulgar (or perhaps because of this) I feel that it captures the modern teenage life of boys so perfectly... we all know a Jay or a Neil or a Will, and so much of The Inbetweeners is recognisable to me that the jokes resonate all the more, evoking a feeling of nostalgia for my not-too-distant younger days. The way these characters interact is 100% spot on - that mix of constant faux-antagonism, shared social awkwardness, and the occasional (rare) glimpses of genuine friendship - it all rings true for the teenage experience. I was sad when the TV show finished, so the prospect of a film that followed up the post-school adventures of these characters made me quite happy.

Neil, Will, Jay and Simon have just finished high school. Dubbing themselves the 'Pussay Patrol', they decide to go on a holiday to the hedonistic Greek islands - determined to party hard and have copious amounts of sex. Upon arrival they find that their hotel is a horrible dive; the proprieter is fishing a dead dog out of the communal well and warns them that shitting on the floor of their room will result in a $50 fine. Each time. The boys go out on the town, and their attempts to get fresh with 'the ladies' seem just as depressing as the hotel. That is, at least until they meet four British girls in a particularly empty bar.

The first thing that I should say is that you don't need to have seen the TV show to appreciate this film. No back story is required, it's basically just a British version of American Pie or The Hangover. For those who have seen the TV show, a familiarity with the characters will only deepen the appeal. Every minor character from the TV series shows up in some capacity (even Fat John), and the exploits of the boys go much further than the constraints of television ever allowed. Some parts of the film won't be for the faint of heart (or stomach) but my sides literally hurt from laughing too hard and frequently. It's not exactly new ground for comedy or unpredictably plotted, but the half-cocked charm of the four leads ensures that the material is approached with buckets of enthusiasm and energy, and the comedy is of a realistic kind that should seem familiar to anyone who had a traditionally mispent youth.

DIRECTOR: Ben Palmer
WRITER/SOURCE: Damon Beesley and Iain Morris, based on the television series of the same name.
KEY ACTORS: Simon Bird, Joe Thomas, James Buckley, Blake Harrison, Emily Head, Anthony Head, Laura Haddock, Tamla Kari

RELATED TEXTS:
- The British sitcom The Inbetweeners.
- Other films about mediterranean party spots for the young and British: It's All Gone Pete Tong, Kevin and Perry Go Large and Welcome to Ibiza.
- Some of the film's subject matter should be familiar to people who've seen the likes of American Pie, The Hangover, Porky's, Old School or Superbad.