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Funland

  • TV Mini Series
  • 2005
  • 1h
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
672
YOUR RATING
Sarah Smart in Funland (2005)
Dark ComedyComedyDramaMysteryThriller

Carter Krantz arrives in Blackpool to investigate who killed his mother. He gets a job in the local strip club. He soon realizes that the town has many dark secrets and that the killer may e... Read allCarter Krantz arrives in Blackpool to investigate who killed his mother. He gets a job in the local strip club. He soon realizes that the town has many dark secrets and that the killer may even be his boss - the club's owner.Carter Krantz arrives in Blackpool to investigate who killed his mother. He gets a job in the local strip club. He soon realizes that the town has many dark secrets and that the killer may even be his boss - the club's owner.

  • Stars
    • Daniel Mays
    • Ian Puleston-Davies
    • Sarah Smart
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.1/10
    672
    YOUR RATING
    • Stars
      • Daniel Mays
      • Ian Puleston-Davies
      • Sarah Smart
    • 13User reviews
    • 3Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
      • 2 nominations total

    Episodes11

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    TopTop-rated1 season2005

    Photos13

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    Top cast40

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    Daniel Mays
    Daniel Mays
    • Carter Krantz
    • 2005
    Ian Puleston-Davies
    Ian Puleston-Davies
    • Shirley Woolf
    • 2005
    Sarah Smart
    Sarah Smart
    • Lola Sutton
    • 2005
    Kris Marshall
    Kris Marshall
    • Dudley Sutton
    • 2005
    Philip Jackson
    Philip Jackson
    • Leo Finch
    • 2005
    Judy Parfitt
    Judy Parfitt
    • Mercy Woolf
    • 2005
    Emily Aston
    Emily Aston
    • Ruby Woolf
    • 2005
    Frances Barber
    Frances Barber
    • Connie Woolf
    • 2005
    Roy Barraclough
    Roy Barraclough
    • Onan Van Kneck
    • 2005
    Kenny Doughty
    Kenny Doughty
    • Liam Woolf
    • 2005
    Paul Courtenay Hyu
    • Bryan Luke…
    • 2005
    Ryan Pope
    Ryan Pope
    • Chris Church
    • 2005
    Beth Cordingly
    Beth Cordingly
    • Vienna Keen
    • 2005
    Nicholas Beveney
    • The Greek
    • 2005
    Ron Cook
    Ron Cook
    • Hitman 1…
    • 2005
    Brian Hibbard
    • Willy Woolf…
    • 2005
    Cheryl Campbell
    Cheryl Campbell
    • Valerie Hinchcliffe
    • 2005
    Jason Watkins
    Jason Watkins
    • Bradley Stainer
    • 2005
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews13

    8.1672
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    Featured reviews

    10fiona_watts271

    The most intriguing of programmes in a long time!

    I totally disagree with comments slating this programme. I also stumbled across Funland - a surreal experience! It made great Sunday evening television and I could not wait for the next episode. It's dark, bizarre and certainly lends itself to a cult following. The acting from characters Lola and Carter particularly were believable and realistic. Watching it was an uncomfortable experience, which I am hoping was the intention of the writing and direction. It was this aspect that made it addictive for me. The almost cringe-worthy exposure to a sordid, sick underworld made fascinating watching. I am very pleased that it has been nominated for a Bafta.
    8manoftrent-21299

    Seaside fun & frolics (slightly soiled)

    Originally showcased in 2005 on the now defunct BBC 3 digital channel; Funland is a jaded tale of revenge, murder, greed and debauchery set over the course of a long weekend in a seedy English seaside town.

    It is not difficult to see where the writers drew their inspiration from either. There are plenty of familiar nods to popular culture - the gritty realism of Get Carter, the macabre absurdities of The League of Gentleman, the earthy humour of a 1970s Confessions film. Even King Kong for Pete's sake!

    But does it work? Well, yes and no.

    Funland's strengths undoubtedly lie in it's solid and convincing cast - a veritable who's who of British acting talent. Worthy of mention is the late, Roy Barraclough as the grasping, machiavellian local politician Onan Van Kneck. His caustic one liners, coupled with his unconvincing toupee and peculiar physical deformities really was inspired casting. So too, Sarah Smart as the vulnerable but exploited Lola.

    Blackpool's tacky "glamour" also provides the perfect backdrop for a story populated by sleazy, morally repulsive characters and unsettling subject matter. It is jarring, but strangely compelling viewing.

    But, Funland is first and foremost a comedy. A very, very, very dark comedy. The bizarre spectacle of a stuffed dead gangster being trundled around the town on roller skates will stay with me for a very long time.

    The series could have benefitted greatly from some sharper editing. This is easily the show's worst flaw. Characters and situations are introduced briefly but are not developed undermining the plot and stifling the pace of the action. There is too much unnecessary dialogue, and the much anticipated finale (after 10 episodes) seemed rushed and frustratingly inconsequential.

    That said, Funland is a grim, humorous, often poignant, sometimes shocking journey through the grubby u bend of life in a seaside town that they forgot to close down.



























    Funland has some brilliant one-liners and succeeds in delivering some genuinely hilarious moments: the council meeting who's only topic on the agenda appears to be discussing the size of a stripper's thong; and the bizarre spectacle of a stuffed dead gangster being trundled around the town on roller skates; are easily two of the funniest scenes I've seen on TV in a long time.
    10weby2

    Surreal & Dark - Brilliant

    BBC3 has been an excellent vehicle for new ventures that, due to their 'different' approach, wouldn't be picked up by either BBC1 or BBC2. Admittedly there have been some lumps of crap and a whole load of averageness, but amongst that have been some glimpses of pure brilliance.

    And Funland is one of the highlights.

    Set amongst the downmarket seediness that is Blackpool, the characters are almost all deliberately grotesque exaggerations. One can't fail to see the obvious comparisons with the League of Gentlemen.

    The acting is good enough to compliment the script, with some well-known faces turning up in roles - and situations - you wouldn't expect to see them in.

    I loved it.
    jramills

    Compelling viewing

    Bought this on DVD for the price (five quid) and the writing/cast credits (half of The League of Gentlemen) - I wasn't disappointed.

    This is a dark, twisted, comedy that also works as a compelling, enthralling and gripping thriller. At times, the tension makes it almost unbearable to watch, and then suddenly there's a scene or a shot that makes you laugh aloud.

    I watched this in one sitting, all six hours of it, such is its power to draw you in and captivate you.

    Beautifully written and well-acted by all involved, this is a darkly funny series that is well worth checking out. Most of the cast are familiar faces, seasoned pros giving excellent performances. Simon Greenall (Michael The "Work Geordie" in I'm Alan Partridge) is almost unrecognisable as the local newspaper reporter.

    If you like your comedy with a deeper, dramatic storyline, or your mystery with a sense of humour, check this series out.
    8Crimpo2

    Enoying it

    I have to say that I'm enjoying Funland on BBC2(I live in one of the large areas of the country where digital TV remains unavailable)and I didn't really have that high hopes for it.

    It is extremely strange - and some of the grotesque features are over the top (an editor should have been more in evidence at times) - but I want to know if there actually is a plot (rather like Lost!) so I keep watching despite suspecting all the questions may never be answered.

    I think we have some fine little acting gems in there - Philip Jackson (Finch) is of course excellent as ever but also mentions in dispatches for Sarah Smart (Lola), Ian Puleston-Davies (Shirley) and Judy Parfitt (Mercy). Frances Barber (Connie) was rather wasted but you can't have everything

    Most of all however it has made me laugh - and that strangely enough is something the League of Gentlemen never did...

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      The character name Ambrose Chapel actually comes originally from the Alfred Hitchcock movie "The Man Who Knew Too Much", which is where the X-Files writers took it from.

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • October 23, 2005 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Веселяндия
    • Filming locations
      • Bond Street, Blackpool, Lancashire, England, UK
    • Production company
      • BBC Comedy-North
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo

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