The Boys in Blue

An appallingly stilted remake of a Will Hay classic (Ask A Policeman) featuring two comedians who look extremely uncomfortable outside the comforts of the TV studio or theatre. Compulsive viewing for anyone wishing to relive the nadir of the British film industry when TV tie-ins were considered a good investment. This film betrays it's limited budget in a number of ways particularly as it has the 'can't afford to wait for a sunny day' syndrome that adds a depressing gloom to so many British movies of this period. No laughs, no fun, nothing.

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.

If you have even heard of this movie then you likely have already seen it and it was a long time ago. Nostalgia is the only valid reason to watch this film. While it seems to have been forgotten by British TV it has resurfaced on YouTube. The reviews are mixed between rose tinted nostalgia and flat out hatred for what is a very shoddy piece of work. This was made by veteran director Val Guest, so why does this Cannon and Ball vehicle stink? I think the answer is Cannon and Ball. Now while they are experienced comics they simply cannot act. There are brief moments which are funny when they are doing what is there stage act while being filmed, but the majority of the film is them trying to act out scenes and cover the story. They simply aren't up to the job of an actor and it sucks the enjoyment out of the film. It looks like but was filmed on a shoestring budget and there are a few action scenes which are actually pretty boring. They must have spent a fair amount of the budget on the dodgy theme song at the end which if I recall was released as a single? Unless 1970s comedy is your thing, in which case you are likely in your 70s or 80s the humour is unlikely to appeal. Things like looking up a woman's skirt while she is on a ladder etc is the level on offer. You can only recommend this for people who want a second exposure to this movie not having seen it since 1982. There's a pretty good reason why it's not troubled the airwaves since then unlike many other 80s comedies. Although I'm sure with the passing of Bobby Ball this week it will get a few viewers. Now all I need to do is figure out how to delete all those Cannon and Ball recommendations on YouTube I have been lumbered with after sitting through Boys in Blue.....

"Ask a Policeman" was Will Hay's third best movie, full of wit and charm with three excellent lead actors. This remake is dreadful and it is a huge shame that it was directed by Val Guest, considering he role in making Hay such a star.

Cannon and Ball - dear God, no! Just get "Ask a Policeman", or better still get "Oh, Mr Porter", "Bones of the River" and "Convict 99" and see how Val Guest and Will Hay combine to make masterpieces of British cinema.

Pass this by - it is dreadful. Please, keep walking...no go on...nothing to see here...

I am disgusted that anyone could give this a 10. I was going to score it 3 simply out of respect to Val Guest, but the fact that people are scoring it 10 - rating it as highly as Citizen Kane, The Godfather Part 2, Shawshank Redemption, African Queen etc is ridiculous. The acting from C&B is atrocious. The script is ludicrous - even the verbatim lines taken from Will Hay's classic seem ludicrous when C&B utter them, and it looks awful. I have to give it 1 to cancel out undeserved 10s.

I remember going to see this as a kid and at the time (i was 11) I loved it. Having seen it again recently I'm sorry to say that I again loved it. I know it's a bad film but there's something about it (or that period) that fills me with nostalgia and I suppose makes me smile. Ask a Policeman is of course a classic and far superior, however I'm afraid i like them both.....sorry