Dutch Girls

The main fascination with this film is seeing various now-famous actors in their younger days. A schoolboy hockey team travel to the Netherlands on a hockey tour, but are more interested in Dutch girls and have various escapades.

They're supposed to be at school - I think it's mentioned that Colin Firth's character is 17 - but all the actors are in their late twenties and frankly easily look thirty or more. Which added to the amusement factor for me.

You can see why Colin Firth got cast as Darcy from this movie. He has a dignity and intensity that sets him apart. It's a shame Daniel Chatto eventually quit acting as he's pretty good.

Timothy Spall's character is probably the most memorable element - his behaviour is implausibly appalling, at times he displays literally cover-your-face cringe-level rudeness and boorishness - but hilarious nonetheless. He's excellent value.

It's set in 1985 so there's plenty of nostalgia value here. The disco was pretty wince-making, especially the dancing. Yes - people did dance like that in the 80s UK in a lame, awkward way at youth club discos and so on.

Highly recommended, anyway. I wouldn't say it was a classic but it's definitely a gem.

Around the same time as 'Annika' was the Sunday evening drama on Granada TV. So was 'Dutch Girls' about a Scottish public school hockey team playing a tour of the Netherlands. The teenage boys in the team included Colin Firth and Timothy Spall of all people - the least teen looking actors you could ever find to cast but maybe their inclusion added to the comedy value?

The school trip is centred around the boys and their lust for sexually liberated and carefree 'Dutch girls' which of course they were according to the show - in the way of their quest is their strict Scottish teacher named 'Mole' (an excellent portrayal by Bill Paterson) who is more interested in them enjoying Indonesian cuisine than the delights of the Dutch girls - the crude stereotype is massively highlighted in this show like it was in 'Annika' but it was done for comedy effect.

The tour of the Netherlands is a bust, they lose all their games but their main objectives, meeting Dutch girls and going to Amsterdam's red light district are all completed with aplomb.

Saying that, they should have made some time to go with Mole to try some Indonesian food, they truly missed out - or is that me showing my age?

Dutch Girls is the starting point of so many great actors careers. Colin Firth (Truelove), Timothy Spall (Lyndon Baines) just to mention two.

The film is every teenage boys dream of an overseas school trip and all the bad behaviour thats expected. (I'm sure that many viewers can relate to the experiences portrayed in the film)

The acting is a bit lame in places and the soundtrack a bit dodgy, but my advice is watch it a couple of times so that you catch the background action.

The film has gained cult status over the last few years and a large fan base made up mainly of Colin Firth fans (due to his success in the Bridget Jones Movies).

Bill Patterson(Mr Mole)really makes the film for me, his performance really does portray that of a teacher wanting to make the most of the full "Amsterdam" experience.

The film should have place in the heart of every man..

I remembered this TV drama after searching IMDb for facts about Timothy Spall. I had no idea Bill Paterson and Colin Firth were in it too. OK, I was 16, totally besotted with a girl called Julie, so watching this show really made me wistful for female company! As I remember it, the hockey team board a ferry to Holland to play another school team, however, their training consists of smoking Silk Cut, Drinking and falling in love with Dutch Girls. I also seem to remember one of the characters drilling holes on his hockey stick and filling it with solder or some melted metal to aid his shots. I also remember Timothy Spall staying at some Dutch family's house and forgetting to flush the toilet after doing the no.2 and horrifying the Mother of the house when she goes in after him.

I think this could have been a teenage classic like The Breakfast Club, if it was better know. I am female and well past my teenage years, but this movie is so truthful, sweet and had me laughing out loud many times. I highly recommend this movie, and will definitely watch it again.