Scudpipes

Eight people - about half the audience - walked out of this; usually I think, big deal, let them leave, some people have no taste. For example, fans of Tom Cruise disappointed by Eyes Wide Shut. Here, I guess you could say these were Hiddleston fans who wanted a bit more of him with his top off... but to be honest, I think they were just bored. I was. I should have walked too. As another reviewer here has written, JG Ballard can't be adapted for the screen. He's about right. That's the main problem - the script is a mess, both pretentious and trite, also very pleased with itself. Performances are uneven, and nothing much happens - for example, there is talk of a lobotomy, but that's about it. It's cobblers. Never has anarchic behaviour seemed to tedious and naff. Well worth avoiding, despite a couple of promising moments - the costume party, for example, and the thug who says 'You won't be needing that' - both of which director Wheatley fails to capitalise on. Oh, and it features an annoying intelligent kid, which is a big no no.

The pilot was touching, humane, painfully sad, sometimes hilarious... make the series NOW Channel 4... Gervais proves that behind all the bluster and arrogance he is actually a rather sweet, sensitive human being... and Derek is a delight... it is not easy to blend comedy and poignancy - and even if the Einaudi piano was laid on a bit thick at the end, this was magnificent, heartfelt stuff. Great moments include Derek charging naked through the old people's home and the Karl Pilkington character saying, with spot on timing "Normal"; and Hannah's head butt in the pub was the best 'attack on plebs' scene since Richard Gere kung-fu-ed some punks in An Officer and a Gentleman. Thank God for Ricky Gervais, doing it his way. And remember, we're all getting old folks...