Giving opinions for several years and showing like a fine vintage
Giving opinions for several years and showing like a fine vintage
Member since:11.07.2000
Reviews:624
Members who trust:55
The success of Ali G on television meant that a big screen adventure for the leader of the Staines massive was inevitable. I count myself as a fan of Ali and get the joke that all he is a piss take on all those white boys who think they're actually cool following the black culture. However the character works because he was also someone who would conduct an interview with people who obviously didn't get it and wanted to appear cool to the 'youth' of the UK, I'm talking about politicians etc. Ali G was funny purely because he was an outrageous character in normal situations.
It's a shame that they forgot the characters principles when they made this movie. I was ready to give Ali G Indahouse a fair go, I didn't see it on it's theatrical release but though I couldn't go wrong with a blind purchase on DVD. Sadly I was wrong.
The film sees Ali in his home town of Staines with his small gang including his mate Dave and Ricky C (Martin Freeman from The Office) generally doing nothing and getting in the face of arch rivals the east end massive. Ali teaches a 'keep it real' class at the local community centre to young boys, however the government is about to close down the centre. Ali makes a protest and soon finds himself as the MP for Staines. The deputy PM (Charles Dance) uses Ali to make the Prime Minister (Micheal Gambon) a laughing stock and this gain power. However he doesn't forsee Ali's 'keep it real' attitude sweeping the nation and making politics cool. Cue an endless parody of gangster life and toilet humour as Ali bigs up indahouse.
There are a few laughs in this movie but sadly a few in 83 minutes does not a good movie make. I don't know about you but gross out humour in a movie only works if it is so outrageous and in your face. Scenes such as Ali farting on Charles Dance just come across as dated, desparate and juvenile. The only real laugh comes from when Dance asks Ali if he'd like to be a MP, "they're all a bunch of pr**ks!" is the response and ultimately quite true for a lot of them. For some reason Ali's mate Dave in the film is a bit of a dunce with a squeaky voice when Ali's previous storys about him in his TV shows made him out to be incredibly smashed on drugs and outrageous, here he's just plain boring.
The director Mark Mylod shoots the whole film as a very routine affair, there's no flair and this just goes down as another british movie with no style and imagination. I couldn't get past the fact that this was shot in a very dull manner. There's not even an attempt to make some visual comedy and that's the real opportunity that is missed.
Sacha Baron Coen can't be blamed for trying to make his creation succeed on the big screen. It looks like he's just followed the blueprint that makes this kind of film successful, it caters for the lowest expectations of a crowd who look for nothing in a film apart from dick and fart jokes. There are comedy's like Something About Mary that tow the same line however they have a sweet underlying current about them and actually also a darker edge that makes them standout and actually give you laughs.
This is one movie that is forgettable and only raises a smirk in it's short running time,. By all means get it out on video but if you really do get the Ali G joke on TV then prepare to be very disappointed when you see this..........Aiiiiiiiiiiiiii (sorry I couldn't help it!)
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Comedy - Director: Richard Boden, Mandie Fletcher, Martin Shardlow - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Hugh Laurie, Miranda Richardson, Stephen Fry, Brian Blessed, Tim McInnerny, Tony Robinson, Rowan Atkinson
Comedy - Director: Gareth Carrivick - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Kathryn Drysdale, Sheridan Smith, Natalie Casey, Will Mellor, Ralf Little
Comedy - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Tessa Peake-Jones, Buster Merryfield, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst
Well, there's one good thing about Ali G - he isn't plaguing is Israeli compatriots anymore. Sorry that the wide screen and the UK ended up suffering from him instead.
Silverback 05.12.2002 07:04
Excellent review. This is the tragedy of British comedies. There was a similarly lame kids' film caled "Thunderpants" - loads of stars, but no style.
michaird 04.12.2002 22:29
I enjoyed it, although it wasnt great. there were a few very funny moments (the bit where his mates got locked int he room and thought 'if were gonna die we might as well give it a go' was especially funny). chelle
By the marginal-or-miss standards of British TV spin-offs,Ali G in da Houseis well above ... more
adequate, even though it drags out every smart line or decent routine until they lie dead on the screen just begging for a laugh track. The film pulls back a bit f...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
The most controversial and hilarious number one blockbuster, see the original superstar ... more
from Staines as you've never seen him before. Assisted by his loyal crew, the West Staines Massive and his girlfriend 'me Julie' he emerges as the unlikeliest of he...
By the marginal-or-miss standards of British TV spin-offs,Ali G in da Houseis well above ... more
adequate, even though it drags out every smart line or decent routine until they lie dead on the screen just begging for a laugh track. The film pulls back a bit f...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 4 to 6 weeks...
Advantages: Ali G is da main man...he will always provide a laugh or two. Disadvantages: Not up to the usual standards that you expect from the staines man.
![Ali G Indahouse The Movie [DVD] [2002]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78545561.jpg "Ali G Indahouse The Movie [DVD] [2002]")
Dec 4th, 2002
very helpful by (100%):
