The All Together

Oh dear. good cast, but to write and direct is an art and to write wit and direct wit is a bit of a task. Even doing good comedy you have to get the timing and moment right. Im not putting it all down there were parts where i laughed loud but that was at very few times. The main focus to me was on the fast free flowing dialogue, that made some people in the film annoying. It may sound great while reading the script in your head but getting that out and to the camera is a different task. And the hand held camera work does give energy to few parts of the film. Overall direction was good but the script was not all that to me, but I'm sure you was reading the script in your head it would sound good. Sorry.

I had no expectations for this, but it definitely holds your attention for its (short) running time, and there are definitely a few laughs along the way. While things do get a bit farcical at times it provides a rewarding experience if you can look past it.

Basically Martin Freeman plays a cynical TV producer who lives with a bizarre, French artist called Bob. One day he heads out and leaves Bob to look after the house, and speak to some estate agents who are coming round to price the place up. However a local gangster, along with an American 'connection' need to use the toilet and end up holding them all hostage while one of them gets the runs. No, seriously - that is the plot!

...that's what this film is. And yes, made for peanuts which apparently makes it open season for some film critics to attack it. Remember all the fuss about movies like Clerks and El Mariachi? Good grief 'The All Together' is funnier than the former and better looking than the latter! I love Martin Freeman but he's about the fifth funniest character in this. It's packed with laughs and the dialogue is so memorable. So why isn't this movie getting the praise it deserves?

Anything new and different (that isn't a miserable worthy drama) gets savaged by the film geeks in this country. Don't believe these sad little men (as they all seem to be male). I've seen this twice now and both times the audience were loving it and at the end it got applause!

I hadn't seen or heard anything about this film. I got roped along. But must say I thought it was funny. It just made me smile. A lot.

Looked it up when I got home and it's only on in a few places!!?? But why? I suppose it might come across as being too smart/cynical which may account for some of the angry reviews I saw. But it is full of great lines and actually really warm and cheerful if you watch it all and take it in.

I don't claim to be an expert but to me this was a good one. A really good one. It's not on at the cinema I saw it at anymore - after one week. So maybe I'm in the minority!

Almost from the word go this film is poor and lacking conviction but then again most people would struggle to show commitment to a script as uninspiring as this. The dialogue really does not flow and sometimes as in this case more is less (or should have been). This is also backed-up by odd scenes (e.g. the Cemetry slow-motion walk) that you think might lead somewhere but only seem to waste a few more seconds of your life.

The plot is a strange combination of gangster / situation comedy which I am sure seemed a good idea at the time but if ever there was a case for someone needing to be honest with the scriptwriter then here was it.

Martin Freeman is okay but then he seems to have one character which always plays so I am beginning to wonder if he was given a script or just filmed and told to react as normal.

Finally - humour. This reminds me of the 'Python (I think) quote about Shakespere, of his 'comedies' - If he had meant it to be humorous he would have put a joke in it. Well I didn't see one.

Don't waste your time - I did because I was watching it with a friend and kept hoping that it was going to get better.

It didn't.