whatsyourboggle

I've rated this 2 because I don't like to rate anything either 1 or 10, the truth is usually somewhere in the middle, and so far I've only seen the Special, and episodes 1 and 2, currently available on BBC iPlayer.

I just finished a long overdue rewatch of the original series and Going Straight this week. Perhaps that was my mistake, it's too fresh in my memory now. But I was fancying a little more charming witty prison comedy so gave it a shot.

I appreciate that they've modernised it, making Fletcher a computer genius, but they made a big mistake. In the original series, the prison was just the setting, and the focus was on the varied colourful characters. In this, I feel like they focus too much on "look, they're in prison!" with transitional shots of CCTV cameras and exterior shots, and they've neglected to make the characters interesting or memorable.

Now I'll be first to admit, with my rewatch so recent, perhaps I'm being unfair in making direct comparisons, but this one stands on its own - they've made Fletch *obnoxious.* It's like Porridge by way of the Brittas Empire. His character doesn't sound witty or well written, he sounds like he's reheased the cleverisms in the mirror and he's reciting them when he has an audience. I get it, I'm autistic, I do that too :p but he lacks the naturalistic charm that made OG Fletch such a delight. New Fletch feels like he's waiting for his turn to recite his lines. I know nothing else of the chap's career so I won't comment on his ability to act, I can only say that his ability to act in this doesn't really vibe. It feels almost like he's self aware that he's in a show. He's smarter than everyone else, and knows it. He lacks the playful ease Ronnie Barker brought to his Fletcher. And so far - again I've only seen a few episodes - there haven't really been any stakes. In the original there were times that were genuinely tense, with consequences for things going South. So far, this feels more like it's just a set up for punchlines.

I don't know if I'll watch the other episodes. I might for a sake of completionism, but I don't think it will change my score. This is a really joyless interpretation of a really brilliant show. You'd be better off rewatching the original, honestly.

I've been trying to find a copy of this movie for months. Happily I finally found it tonight. It wasn't worth the wait. I didn't care about any of the characters except the two that elevate every movie they're in that are the only redeeming features about this movie, James Hong and Victor Wong. I was expecting more given the cast, especially Ernie Reyes Jr which I've always enjoyed. I didn't find it engaging or rewarding of my time and don't understand how others have rated it so high. 9 or 10 out of 10? Thoroughly baffled. Victor Wong has a meltdown more convincing than the guy in The Crow 2, which was interesting. I dunno. I didn't go into this expecting Bloodsport but I didn't even see the ending coming, my brain was numb the whole time. The best part was Victor Wong shouting "there's no sweary word here, this is a monestary. That might be the only part of it I remember.

I remember this vaguely, saw it as a kid. I thought it was creative, a clever idea, and appreciated the prompt at the end, it makes one think.

It's funny, sweet, deceptively deep, chaotic fun, I remember the vibe being very off-kilter, and it was fast-paced.

If you can track it down, it's worth checking out. As short films go, I found it a good watch.