Review by kilo43

How do you take a book which is in the format of a dairy where a man recollects his impressions of experiences, and then convert that into TV comedy/drama? it was a brave attempt; the acting was not bad at all, but it just didn't seem like I was watching 'Charles Pooter'; rather I was watching someone attempt to play Charles Pooter, and in a few places until I tuned out i even found what i considered to be some mistakes in how the performance depicted some sections of the diary - By that I mean the character on screen wasn't acting in accordance with how the emotions of the character would be in the context of the book and the time and social rules and etiquette - I saw this along time ago so cannot relate which actual scenes made me feel this way, but there were a few times when Pooters body language and whole demeanour was just wrong for the incident he was relating to camera (imo) It was a long time ago I saw this, so it is hard to recall exactly which bits i felt were played wrongly - possibly one was Pooter's recollection of the "Cummings is always going, & Gowings is always coming" gaff incident. Possibly it was that.

To my mind some literature simply cannot work in film/TV medium - Some of the more lengthy 'entries' might work excellently if created with cast as flashback type sequences - perhaps that would have been the thing to do - Have Pooter narrate, while the action is done as a series of set pieces.

I am a huge fan of the book but couldn't even sit through this all the way.

In all fairness i should perhaps watch it again, not sure were i could view it tho. The mark given with this review if for brave effort, but ultimately imo it failed to convey the subtle stuffiness of Charles Pooter.