The Boys in Blue

The original version of this film (Will Hay's 'Ask A Policeman) was a classic. This, the remake, wern't as bad as some people said. Starring 80's comedy icons Cannon and Ball, the plot went that the two bungling policemen were in danger of losing their jobs because of the lack of crime in their little town of Little Bottom (pronounced Botham). Until some bad people start to steal a load of pricless paintings. The two start to investigate, even encountering a ufo along the way. I liked this film. I wish i could still get it. (I'm looking around for it but am unable to. If anyone knows where I can get a copy, type to this page, please!!! I will be in your debt!)

Since Cannon and Ball were quite a popular duo back in the late 1970's - mid 1980s, it was no surprise they got their own film version; in C & B case theirs was a loose remake of Will Hay's 'Ask A Policeman' (which I have not seen).

I could go on about the flaws and pacing - and I won't take any issue there - but this is a just silly comedy from a bygone era. I can watch this on an afternoon as a bit of harmless, undemanding viewing - and the various cameoes are quite fun.

But I take issue with the criticism that this is the worst British film ever, etc. A masterpiece it is not, but I could name half a dozen that a far, far worse....

I recently bought this film on DVD and it is still as funny as watching the first time in the cinema. A mixture of slapstick and funny lines make this a film that only C&B fans will really appreciate and enjoy, you also get some great brit actors as well such as Roy Kinnear, Eric Sykes, Jack Douglas, Jon Pertwee and Arthur English. It is a remake of the Will Hay movie Ask A Policeman, although I can only vaguely remember the Will Hay version, it is a pretty simple plot to follow. C&B play two hapless policemen in the village of Little Bottom and they are called into some police work when art thieves try to smuggle out some stolen paintings. This will appeal to anyone who grew up in the 80's and enjoyed watching C&B

I first saw The Boys in Blue at the cinema when I was a youngster. Even at that age I wasn't a fan of the comedy duo Tommy Cannon and Bobby Ball, who I found quite clearly unfunny. But my friend was a big fan so I went along to the cinema with him and his granny, with little enthusiasm. But lo and behold, I remember finding it absolutely hilarious, my friend's granny declaring that she was also surprised and that this was definitely the best thing Cannon and Ball had ever did. So I always had a bit of fondness for this film and eventually saw it for the second time a few years ago, unfortunately that time finding it to be one of the worst films I had ever seen; I was staggered and disappointed in my ten year old self for having ever found it such a chuckle-fest. Anyway, recently I saw it once more and feel I can be a little more measured and say that the truth lies somewhere in between. It's a lightly amusing bit of nonsense that really isn't all that bad at all.

In it Cannon and Ball star as two policemen from a small crime-free town. They fabricate a crime in order to safe-guard their jobs but immediately find themselves in the midst of a scheme involving real thieves. The whole point of the film is to give the duo free reign to display their usual comedy thing. In the early 80's these guys were big TV stars you have to remember but the transition to the big screen never really happened for them and I don't think this film did particularly well. It's pretty broad humour to say the least so don't look for subtlety here. But really it's okay in a Tuesday afternoon kind of way. My friend's granny was right; this is the best thing Cannon and Ball ever did.

Utter tripe - a pointless remake of Will Hay's superb 'Ask A Policeman' starring the unfunny and charmless Cannon and Ball - a straight man and a 'comedian' whose one joke consists of snapping his braces. Don't bother.