Percy's Progress

This sequel to Percy is a blot on the careers of all who appeared in or were involved in the production. This shows to what depths the British film industry had sunk at the time this film was made. What a waste of a fine cast.

In many ways, watching "Percy's Progress" is a depressing experience.

Not only because it was a failure as a comedy, but that the quality cast it assembled and capable director/producer team had seen much better days and illustrated how much of a rut the UK film industry was in the mid-1970s

The film's humour, a predictably endless series of double-entendres, is generally tedious.

Having said that, it could've been worse and is a slight improvement on the original 1971 film, "Percy".

This is because "Percy" tried to have it's cake and eat it too; be both a low-brow sex comedy and a serious analysis of the central character's predicament (and unsuccessful on both counts). This resulted in star Hywel Bennett's sad sack performance which belonged in another film.

At least "Percy's Progress" doesn't pretend it's anything other than a bawdy sex comedy and is a bit livelier than it's predecessor. It's farcical elements aren't particularly funny, but at least it's trying.

And there are minor pleasures in the performances. As the central character (although actually playing a different person from the first film technically), Leigh Lawson is an improvement on Bennett and is a fairly amiable rogue of a character.

And there are inevitable minor pleasures from a strong cast, including Corbett in an enjoyable performance as a Harold Wilson- type PM. And any film that has Vincent Price in it is always raised a level or two.

But overall, apart from being curio of 1970s UK cinema, this is a film not worth seeking out.

The fact that this film is called It's Not the Size That Counts in the US kind of sums it up. It's a pretty standard 70s British sex farce that while not terrible won't be winning any awards it's fair to say. I do hold a certain interest in these types of films and I hadn't seen this one before so thought I'd give it a go. The original was no masterpiece but it was watchable at least. This sequel was a bit better than expected, the lead Leigh Lawson gives a decent performance as the well-endowed Percy, and it's interesting to see some notable names in the cast such as Barry Humphires. It was also nice to see Elke Sommer who was also in Carry on Behind which I watched recently. The plot is very thin and it's pretty much just 90 minutes of double entendres, and single ones. I did enjoy the soundtrack though.

The mating season continues with Miss Conception et al. This movie unfortunately suffered severe competition from French Connection 2 and Godfather 2 when it was released. Or did it? Still being WAY better than Porky's (1981), it fits right in with any Troma-movie. There is excessive lavatorial humor and even a toxic disaster. Then some more lavatorial humor. The music is stoopid too. Some might like the looks of Percy, who is probably casted to look like Alain Delon. Or something. My opinion is that Percy has turned into a fascist: doing it for England with carefully selected women ... Sounds like Dr. Strangelove, doesn't it? Rather see part one if you must.

Have we seen percy's last stand? I certainly hope so. You'll regret seeing this, even if you're an Elke Sommer completist. Personally, I watched this because I'm a Denholm Elliot (Trading Places, 1983) and Vincent Price (Roger Corman collaborator) completist. Really.

I enjoyed the original, I must say. This one, I was of much different opinion. It's almost as if this story has nowhere to go, if only for certain parties using the notorious and famous Percestar, for their own gain and stop him fornicating the throngs of birds, who want him for his incredibly endowed member, such an advantageous package. This movie, while unlike Percy's spirits, or his member, hardly raises laughs. What's more, disappointing, is it wastes the talents of many performances. Even Barry Humphries and Dame Edna, get in on the act, and A grade actors, like Geeson, Booth, and Vincent Price of all people. Are not given much. The replacement Percy here, is a real pretty boy. Apparently the original Percy, passed on this, when offered. Me for one, can't blame him. Even the T and A factor is very low, apart, from a cheeky, appreciative opening.