Plot: What’s it about?
Steve Coogan plays the title character, Alan Partridge in the film version based on the BBC show from the early 1990’s. Coogan reprises his role for the film version. I had never seen a single episode or even heard about the show until reading up on the film. I could see how it might play better on the small screen as the film version feels very padded. Partridge is a DJ and the station has just been bought out and he’s possibly on the verge of being fired. After Partridge convinces the owners to get rid of Pat (Colm Meaney) over him, it’s not long before Pat enters the station with a shotgun and holds everyone hostage. Ultimately, Alan is asked by the police to help bring resolution to the situation by winning over Pat. And so the basic setup is in place. One thing the film does have going for it is Coogan’s deliver of his lines. There are a good number of funny lines throughout the film. Some of them are delivered at such a breakneck pace that it was hard to take it all in.
I’ve been a moderate fan of Coogan for a little while and he does get a lot of laughs here, but the film does reach the point of exhaustion before long. There are a lot of witty moments and funny scenarios, but I can’t help but feeling that the film is rather pointless. Too often it feels like a short skit stretched out to feature length when it didn’t need to be. Think of an SNL skit that doesn’t know when to end. While the film is only 90 minutes or so, it feels endless. A large portion of the film is refined to a limited space and the enclosed setting began to bore me after a while. I understand there’s a pretty big Fan base out there and maybe longtime fans will get more enjoyment than I did. As it stands, I can’t quite recommend this film. It has its moments, but too often, it just feels aimless.
Video: How’s it look?
There are no serious issues with the transfer, but it’s also not a very visual film either. Colors are even and accurate, but not especially flashy either. The print looks fine and little details are strong throughout. The image is AVC encoded with a 2.39:1 ratio. I’m sure many aren’t expecting a film like this to be a demo disc, but that’s fine, this serves the film as it should.
Audio: How’s it sound?
The DTS HD track is decent. Since this is a dialogue driven film, don’t expect too much, but it’s not especially bad, either. Vocals were always concise with no major issues. I mentioned some of the lines being delivered quickly. Subtitles might help matters here. It’s no real fault of the transfer, but if you’re not accustomed to it, it can be a bit much at times.
Supplements: What are the extras?
- The making of Alan Partridge – Is a standard “EPK” type feature. It’s basic and provides some pretty standard interviews with the cast and crew.
- Behind the Scenes – Is a very short (1:42) montage of behind the scenes clips, skip it.
- AXS: A look at Alan Partridge – Essentially an extended trailer. There’s nothing of substance here.
- Previews
