The Likely Lads

It's all too easy to get lost in the trend for sitcom films that ran through the 70's and 80's in the UK. But The Likely Lads will always stand out to me, as the finest example of it's type. Its cheerful 70's sitcom trappings hide a wonderfully written journey that captures that moment everybody goes through in life. When we question our entire existence. Then realise the only sensible solution is to put a frozen lasagne in the oven and pour a Newcastle Brown Ale into a dimpled pint glass with a handle.

"In the chocolate box of life, the top layer's already gone. And someone's pinched the orange creme from the bottom."

Putting aside the fact that this film is dissimilar in many ways to the great TV sitcom 'Whatever happened to...', this is my favourite TV sitcom spin-off. There's not really enough plot to fill the time and it is very episodic, and it is a little cruder than the TV version too. However, we still have Bob unsure about being tied down to Thelma and a dull suburban life and of course we still have lifelong friend Terry who is rather common but has a much more free existence and does many things that Bob now feels unable to. I think my liking for the film is down to personal reasons - I was a young man in 1976, about to get married and lived the 1970's life, much more open and less regulated than we are now. Gosh, I even drove a Chevette at the time! When I see the Lads out together, knocking about the countryside or in the pub I get all misty, and I think it must be this nostalgia that makes me love this film so much. The keyboard/synth music is pretty cheesy, but it suits the film and its period so well. Next time you see this film, forget the (better) TV series and enjoy it for what it is.

Based on a popular UK comedy series, this film concerns two men, former schoolboy friends now approaching middle age, living in the industrial North-East of England. One has "got on" and runs a small building firm, the other is a dissolute drifter. Though often extremely funny, the film, shot in wintry North-East landscapes, also conveys a sense of wasted lives and unfulfilled hopes.

What a brilliantly funny film,sharp script,great acting and a glimpse of north england in the mid 70's.Its up there with other TV spin-off movies like On the buses trilogy,Steptoe and Son,Are you being served and of course Porridge. Funny Moments- The Trip to Northumbria in Thelma's dads caravan being towed by a Vauxhalle Chevette,Bob getting stuck up a chimney trying to retrieve a football,and of course Thelma and Chris getting out of the caravan at the traffic lights unaware they have driven miles and terry and bob have picked up a pair of stunning female hitchhikers! Nostalgia moment-Tesco in the 70's,and cooking bacon in a frying pan with a fag hanging out of your mouth! All in all I've seen this film 2 times since Christmas,the 1st time was at Christmas on BBC1 and loved every minute of it and wished i had recorded it.2nd time was yesterday on DVD given away free with a national newspaper,i couldn't believe it when they advertised the 6 films they were giving away this week.I got Are you being served? the movie too but thats another review!

I thoroughly concur with all the positive reviews of the film , however my main love is the very evocative background music ? where oh where can this be obtained , was there ever an album release at the time ? plenty of other mid-seventies series/films had the music available . To obtain the music from the film is the holy grail for me !!!