Horrible Histories: The Movie - Rotten Romans

Humorous historical drama for kids.

This is the full length feature film release, based on the BBC 'CBBC' TV series. Best way to describe this is to think of an educational 'Blackadder' (another humorous TV history series aimed at older kids and adults).

The plot revolves around the Roman Empire and the rise of Boudicca, stars many familiar British actors, with loads of silly toilet humour and several musical numbers which were just ok.

We took nine-year-old granddaughter who fidgeted a lot, this film probably would have been better as a made for TV special. Stay in your seats while the end credits roll for some funny accompanying commentary from a rat puppet.

We are huge horrible histories fans in our house. This fell short of our expectations as adults. Missing the original cast and the format of the TV show which makes it all so funny. Seemed at parts to be taking itself a little too seriously, which makes it disconnected to both the TV show and the books which are very much tongue in cheek humour and light-hearted and fun.

The cast that were in it were good, but just not from the TV show. History facts were accurate. Storyline was minimal and not offensive.

However, my kids did enjoy it and my 6 year old was engrossed.

I've always found HH amusing on the telly box, by 8 year old twin girls love it, so I'm often in the room when it's on.

I wasn't sure what to expect from it's move to the cinema, but I went with an open mind.

It's got a very strong cast from Britain's sitcom/tv drama/stand up stable, and it's had a very clever script written for it too. There are many, I suppose Easter eggs, in there some obvious, some not so, but I found them funny and clever.

Ok so some of the humour is a bit toilet based, but so is most British humour! It's very similar to some of the better Carry On films, obviously without the cruder humour.

It's got a bit of a slating on here, which to be honest I found a bit sad. Do yourself, and your kids a favour and on a rainy day this holidays go see it!

I must admitI didn't have high hopes for this but the film didn't sway from the horrible histories TV and stage formula and it worked well. If you expecting high brow then you will be disappointed but if it's a top British cast with very British jokes you want then you are in luck.

The film passes very quickly and, as the plot is aimed at kids, it isn't hard to follow. It obviously isn't high budget and very much feels like a horrible histories TV special but that doesn't detract from the fun. The film is a little bit of a slow burner but soon catches on.

It's harmless family fun for a 90 minutes and I even learnt a few things while laughing, the whole key to horrible histories success.

A Horrible Histories movie should definitely include the amazing comedians of TV's Horrible Histories, Mathew Baynton, Simon Farnaby, Jim Howick! The movie is not bad, made in the style of the series, but it could have been way better. I hope that in the sequel we get to see some of our favorite comedians.