Eat the Rich

"The Comic Strip Presents..." a lively, rowdy and bawdy cult black comedy gourmet with a novel one-joke premise like something John Watter's would churn out. Even that of Alex Cox's chaotic "Straight to Hell" shot to mind. This amusing oddball independent British feature kicks you in the guts with its heavy-handed approach from its acting to its dialogues and prominent surrealistic visual styling. No one is safe from the insults. It's sick and twisted with real ugly streak, but quite enjoyable as its anarchic messages are just so knee-jerk, the clever humour can be sneaky in its jabs and its episodically loose writing is just so random with its comic shocks. Interesting to see some familiar faces (Angie Bowie, Bill Wyman, Miranda Richardson and Paul McCartney) popping up with the likes of "The Comic Strip" being involved along with Motorhead contributing to the frenetic rock soundtrack. Even the bassist / singer Lemmy gets a part in the film. Al Pillay and Nosher Powell (looking great in green business suits) are the two who steal the limelight with their electric performances, one deadpan while the other maniac in delivery. Bombastic fun!

"Here have a toffee".

Set in London, this is an anarchic satire on the consumerist yuppiedom of the Thatcherite 1980s. Written by and featuring the cast of The Comic Strip series, the film could be a Who's Who of the 1980s UK show business. All credit to them for getting people such as Paul McCartney, Bill Wyman and Koo Stark and Motorhead who contribute much of the soundtrack.

Director Peter Richardson creates the restaurant (the IMDb does not permit me to mention its name) in which much of the action takes place and the feasting of the patrons and their behaviour as they stuff their faces is a metaphor for the excesses of the 1980s but the film does show the ugliness of all levels of society.

The film is a bit uneven in its pacing but maybe this was intentional as the frenetic pace of the city is offset by a rather pedestrian pace when the location changes to the countryside. Overall though, the film is of its time and with the screen filled with celebrities of those days, some forgotten, some who made it big, this film deserves repeated viewing, even if it is only to play spot the celebrity.

While not technically a Comic Strip Presents movie,this was written by Peter Richardson and Pete Richens(who wrote the majority of the episodes) and "guest stars" The Comic Strip. While these guys are well known for their left leaning comedy,this movie pushes it to extremes,while still managing to poke fun at themselves.A brilliant balance. Although most of the satire is rooted in 80's British politics,you will laugh even if you don't get that. I'd say this is second to Churchill: The Hollywood Years but ahead of The Supergrass.If you are even a small fan of these guys you need to see this.Another Richardson and Richens comedy classic.

An indictment on everything wrong with the thatcherite thinking of the day, this film explores the deepest recesses of the mind - probing into areas previously thought taboo by mainstream cinema.

Hilarious & sad - Ugly & Bad.

You have go to see this!

(even if just for the Motorhead soundtrack)

You'll need to be in the right mood (something like "the entire world is on my last nerve") to fully appreciate this one. Better than most John Waters' films; same genre, if it is a genre. Capitalists may not get it, but for the rest of us it's a rare treat.