By Andy Bowers
As a major admirer of the original (the whole
series on tape…theme tune on CD etc.) I didn’t respond to news of a remake
with the same vitriol-dripping rage of my fellow fans. The press
release photos looked o.k. but the TV teaser caused doubts and the identity
of the writer and producer raised a surprised eye-brow.
Perhaps it was this that caused Charlie Higson’s
Fast show salesman character to spring to mind after watching the premiere
show. Seeing Drop Dead was indeed like “Making love to a beautiful
woman”. The anticipation…the excitement…at last seeing the goods
on display…then ultimately (as sometimes happens) the disappointment at
a great opportunity missed.
I so desperately wanted to like the offering
but Kenneth Cope’s ghost was still haunting me. Those initial fifteen
minutes were pure torture and call me picky but I was irritated by the
lack of the original theme tune and omission of harpsichord accompaniment
to every ghostly entrance. But what let the side down most was the complete
lack of acting ability by R& M. To be fair Charlie’s script wasn’t
half bad but even the dynamic duo’s considerable charm couldn’t save several
key sequences from being totally ruined. A major example of tension
dissipation were the end scenes. Try as I might Mr. Mortimer didn’t
look in the slightest bit worried at the prospect of becoming a human waxwork…ah
well.
I walked away from the debacle gutted but
determined to give it a second chance.
A week later it was a different story.
Maybe after the previous episode anything
was an improvement but after Mental Apparition I could honestly say (gasp)
I enjoyed it immensely. Granted Bob’s performance is still wooden
but Vic Reeve’s is growing into that white suit admirably. Rejuvenating
an old screenplay was maybe Higson’s way of reassurance but it certainly
worked for this viewer and I had spotted the little street map in-joke.
The additional interplay with Tom Baker worked a treat. And…bugger
it…I can’t stop whistling the new theme tune.
It had to be a one off right? My wife’s
stubborn refusal to be impressed should have told me to keep my feet on
the ground but it didn’t and we viewed The Best Years of my Death with
renewed anticipation. The opening grisly beheading caught me off
guard but the very funny park bench sequence with (surprise) Charlie Higson
quickly brought me back amongst friends. The episode rattled on and
yes it looks like Mr. Mortimer is finally getting into his stride with
the role though having a long way to go to create a complete character
and I make no apologies for saying Reeves is perfect as Marty. Think
back to the wonderful Kenneth Cope and the one thing that springs to mind
is the fact that for most of the time he actually enjoyed his afterlife
predicament. Ditto for Vic’s performance and for further proof watch
again the third episode final tag-line.
Yes folks I’m impressed. Never forgetting
the brilliance of the original it takes time with any reworking to accept
the newcomers but I can still see it’s shortcomings.
The major gripe is Jeff Randall’s ineffectuality.
At the time of writing Randall has done little but pass out or look confused.
I accept with Mortimer’s height he wouldn’t convince taking on any heavies
but Mike Pratt’s character got battered regularly and still came through
to the end stood up. Most of the detective work now lies with Jeannie
(Emilia Fox). Her role in the nineties couldn’t possibly be the same
as Annette Andre but please let Randall solve at least one case and is
it really necessary to show her sliding off her stockings in such a provocative
manner. So horrified was I at this scene I had to watch it several
times ( all in the name of research of course).
Forget the abortive pilot and give the show
a chance on it’s own merits. I never thought I’d say this but times
change and no one could recapture that original magic so try to think of
it as less of a poor copy and more of a fun alternative. The press are
divided. The Mirror called for it to remain buried but The Sun called
it “Fantastic fun” and even the more conservative tabloids gave it a thumbs-up.
I stick with the latter and it has been commissioned for another season
no doubt helped by the merging hordes of fans of the stars and nostalgia
hungry viewers sick on a force fed diet of fly-on-the-wall documentaries
and “gritty realism”. So for the time being I’m happy…
But I keep whistling that bloody theme tune.
O.K. So I tried playing King Canute and
hold back the critical tide against the show after three episodes.
Now, I like chicken by-products as much as
anyone but after “Paranoia” the taste of egg dripping down my face was
distinctly unpleasant.
Yep…this was a stinker of biblical proportions.
The script by Higson and Whitehouse seemed an excuse for a Fast Show get
together (perhaps Miss Weir and co. had nothing better to do that week).
The series needed a more down to earth case to solve but under these conditions
“Paranoia” should have been buried next to Marty. My previous criticism
raised it’s ugly head again. Jeff did little but smash through a
wall chained to a bed and whilst I enjoy a good fart joke Marty’s new found
“gift” smacked of Whitehouse’s influence as was Simon Weir’s turn. His
irritating “So to speak” smacked of “Fast Show” reject. Overall the
“bum-burp” gag did almost save the installment from being a complete waste
of time. Almost but not quite.
I’m sure that the final denouement of those
incredible conspiracy theories being nothing of the sort seemed pretty
funny on paper but personally it just made the episode even more pointless…Next.
Sore from seven days licking my wounds and
worried at the risk of a public flogging for crimes against reviewing I
prayed “Blast From The Past” would be a vast improvement. Phew.
It was. But not without faults.
“Murder Ain’t What It Used To Be” did it first
and with more fun but Whitehouse’s revenge seeking spirit was not without
merit. Well paced and reasonably menacing, maybe I could lift my
head again. Randall actually saved the day but had to die for it
and some nice in-jokes ( Cope House?) just to remind us Higson hadn’t forgotten
his roots. I actually laughed when dear old Mike Pratt “guest appeared”
but with so many excellent special effects it could have been done better.
My main gripe with “Blast…” was the duo spent
most of the episode apart. The scenes in the Limbo Nightclub soon
outstayed their welcome and dissipated the menace further booted down by
the appropriately titled “Kick In The Head “ musical number and anyone
over ten could have figured the identity of Sid’s chosen one.
Would Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased) finish
with a whimper or a bang?
“A Man Of Substance” blew away my reservations
and returned me to my fighting corner. The finale was a belter. With
the mixture of humor and danger as well merged as it could be and even
a poignant ending to ice the cake albeit strongly echoing a certain Swayze/Moore
blockbuster.
Okay it took the duo an eternity to
figure the villagers could see Hopkirk but that aside it rattled along
with enough gusto to satisfy (dare I say?) anyone. The tearoom scene
brought back memories and for once R & H seemed a team until
the unlikely willingness of Marty to have Jeff sliced and diced to make
him a god. But overall I thought a great ending, leaving me anyway
wanting more.
AND THERE WILL BE MORE.
Dennis Spooner’s original concept was to have
been more fantasy orientated so in retrospect maybe the revamp was nearer
his vision then the sixties version. Despite this I wanted more actual
cases to solve and concentrate less on the spirit world.
At times it did spill over too much into a
Reeves and Mortimer comedy sketch. I know that they are the stars
but after all in this instance they are actors playing parts and Higson
might bear that in mind. In R H he does have the best of both worlds
attracting the fans of the duo and the originals fans and it would be difficult
to please both all the time. On the whole he is approaching a good
balance.
Of the six episodes two were stinkers, two
were very good and two were o.k so maybe the result isn’t too bad.
Try and catch the video to the single it’s
excellent and by the way, I bought the theme on CD so I can now play the
bloody tune to death.
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