Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa [DVD]

A lot of TV-series comedies fail utterly when attempts are made to transfer them to the big screen. Perhaps one of the worst examples being the awful Dad's Army movie (I'm talking about the old 'un, not seen the more recent remake... and not likely to). Alpha Papa bucks that trend. Coogan's character has the charisma - albeit of a 'dark' anti-matter variety - born of a depth of subtle observation, and years of organic character development, sufficient to the occasion.And what an occasion: a siege at a local radio-station becomes a vehicle, quite literally at the end, for Partridge's huge but fragile ego to raise his broadcasting profile (putting one in mind of his 'I'm a national TV broadcaster trapped in the body of a regional radio presenter' speech in an earlier TV episode). His mixture of crass self-centredness and bruised dignity - his trouser-removing exit from a window is priceless - is somehow perfect, a kind of apotheosis of neuroses. For me, Partridge is *the* comic character of/for our times.

SilverSlowly, silently, now the moonWalks the night in her silver shoon;This way, and that, she peers, and seesSilver fruit upon silver trees;One by one the casements catchHer beams beneath the silvery thatch;Couched in his kennel, like a log,With paws of silver sleeps the dog;From their shadowy cote the white breasts peepOf doves in a silver-feathered sleep;A harvest mouse goes scampering by,With silver claws and a silver eye;And moveless fish in the water gleam,By silver reeds in a silver stream.Walter de la Maren

Never having followed the exploits of East Anglian local radio DJ and all-round narcissist Alan Partridge, but having gained the impression that the character was best left in the past, I approached this movie with fairly low expectations. Happily these were confounded, as the film’s razor-sharp wit, snappy dialogue, and larger-than-life characters were hugely entertaining from start to finish.Facing being replaced with stereotypical yoof presenters, and deemed surplus to requirements by soulless new management, Alan is quick to dodge the bullet by cravenly putting the spotlight on friend and fellow presenter Pat Farrell, who is subsequently fired by the station. Congratulating himself on his quick thinking, Alan has reckoned without the vengeful Pat, who returns to the station with a shotgun, taking control and holding Alan and others (including the new manager) hostage. Cue Alan’s ineffectual attempts to talk Pat down, as the increasingly deranged former presenter proceeds to broadcast his old show once more, with Alan and the latter’s own co-presenter Sidekick Simon joining him in an uneasy alliance.Alongside Steve Coogan as Partridge, Colm Meaney plays Pat, Tim Key is Sidekick Simon, and impressionist Phil Cornwell appears as a rival DJ. The cast is what really makes this, however a combination of clever verbal references, sight gags, slapstick and general buffoonery from the lecherous Partidge, make up what is a thoroughly engaging and riotous 90 minutes.

For a Partridge movie it's hard to watch sometimes. You have to not think about early classic partridge and take it as just a movie. It's pretty funny, and better the second time I watched it. Got some great Alan extras though. A must for partridge nuts, but the regular non Alan fan might think WTF

I adore this character immensely, but I wouldn't watch this again. It's very dull, not the usual littered with hilarity Coogan script :( There's 1 laugh out loud moment in this movie, which I won't spoil for the die hard fans like me determined to see it ;) Sorry but this was basically wasted money - needless to say, Alan's had the last laugh 😏

Taking a very televisual character like Alan Partridge and building a feature film around him is something of a risk, but by overlaying a siege plot and hiring a quality actor like Colm Meaney to play the disgruntled DJ holding his former colleagues hostage at gunpoint, the Partridge writers have given the film a scope that wouldn't have been possible in a sit-com episode.This is no big-budget blockbuster, however. In the traditions of Partridge, this is a piece that works because of affection for the characters, rather than the amount of money spent on the production.The film is full of memorable scenes and vignettes and mixes verbal humour with old-fashioned slapstick and manages to satisfy both long-time fans and newcomers to the characters.

Classic cringe comedy. Steve Coogan is a real craftsman in his work, every vocal nuance or facial expression is brilliantly thought out to maximise the humour. I love AP and the movie didn't disappoint. Farcical and extremely British. Love it

A film from a TV series needs to be what this film is - a longer version of the TV series. Alan Partridge as a series converts well into a film - I could easily see any future Partridge films taking off like...well, a partridge.