The Hot Potato

Gorgeously-shot geezer-fest with a lovely colour palette and a soft heart. It tells a simple, quite satisfying story and stars some top British actors - Winstone, Meaney etc. The film is enjoyable and warm- hearted, despite being a bit predictable in its plot. The violence is cartoonish and often funny, and the level of threat is minimal. Self-parodying at times, the film also recalls the Carry On films and sixties classics like Alfie and The Ipcress File (especially in the music - though The Ipcess File is much darker, obviously). The set design is always beautiful, with lots of period detail. There are some nice European locations too. Charming.

The premise for this so-called 60's style Brit caper sounded intriguing...except that only Ray Winstone has any sort of character or charisma.

Where the likes of Terry Thomas and Peter Sellers had oodles of fizz and bang and entertained us, when the script was a dud, this is just a dud all round. The other characters - and their actors I've already forgotten, ten minutes after it's finished. They might as well been office furniture for all their presence and acting.

The script is obvious and rather boring as we now know all about Plutonium - it has no excitement value whatsoever. The movie seemed to have the budget of a TV pilot 'special' - it's so obviously struggling that it's rather embarrassing. The direction, too, is particularly feeble, without any panache or style whatsoever.

I've been generous with my 3/10. It's not going to be too awful for those that might buy the DVD if they have a good idea of what sort of movie they're getting but for most Hot Potato is a waste of time and effort. And, yes, I do enjoy and own many of the old genuine 60's films on DVD - Too Many Crooks, for example - brilliant! Buy that instead!

This film had so so much potential, but the bloody music, especially the starting credit music really dampened everything.

If the soundtrack was more upbeat then yes, this film could of been right up there with LSTSB.

Ray did a grand job, and is a lucky sod too having of had the pleasure of kissing the lovely, Louise I may add.

It was also great being a time warp film and seeing some great old classic cars.

Don't get me wrong, this film has it's flaws, but the story holds up, and keeps you interested. No switching off half way through with this flick.

Overall, good entertainment with a few beers. Buy, rent, enjoy!

An interesting idea played straight in 'City in Fear' (1959) and with tongue in cheek in 'Kiss Me Deadly' (1955), but here with a score that occasionally parodies John Barry's for 'The Ipcress File' (from which it also borrows the black CIA spook with a hat and a pipe) to make sure we know it's being played for laughs; of which there are very few, alas. The very last shot, however (borrowed from 'Kiss Me Deadly'), is worth sitting through the end credits for.

I thought I might have found a gem when I came across this. Alas it's abysmal.