danbarron

I recently picked up the first two series of this show on DVD. VERY funny. I really enjoyed it, although I had never heard of it and only bought it because it has Nicholas Lyndhurst (Only Fools and Horses, Butterflies) in it.

As untenable as the premise may sound, the show is usually very believable and sometimes takes a semi-serious turn like when Piglet's wife is kidnapped accidentally, but always pays off with a big laugh in the end.

Nicholas Lyndhurst is great as usual in this series, and his costar Clive Francis puts in a good performance as his boss, Drummond. But deserving special mention is Michael Percival as Dexter. They say playing stupid is hard. Well Mr. Percival does an excellent job making Dexter both amazingly stupid yet completely likable.

Highly recommended.

YES the movie has depressing themes. They can't all be American Pie (thank god!)

YES teenage alienation is not an original theme. Most dramatic themes, after 100 years of cinema and 2500 years of theater are not original.

YES some of the characters are stereotypical. That doesn't take away from some brilliant performances.

This movie is a dark comedy. If you don't like that, don't go. But if you do, this one is delightful. The humor is barbarous but funny if you can manage to take it in the right vein. Yes, the people are at times cruel, but those who have lived through real adversity in their lives will identify with Igby closely. Igby uses his humor ("you're funny...") to protect himself from the realities of his particular nightmare.

Culkin, as most have said, presents a star turn as the intelligent but unmotivated Igby. The kid is a good actor. I hope he keeps choosing good films to appear in. Susan Sarandon is great as usual as his domineering and ultimately uncaring mother. Even Bill Pullman's small performance as his absent father is intense.

Bottom line: when the movie was over I wondered what would happen to Igby, and that for me made it a good movie.