Philby-2

Guest shows himself as a competent all rounder (Wrote, Produced and Directed) but needs Bloom and Johnson to cover over direction which lacks at times. Bloom is given too little material for a pedigree which was demonstrated better both before and after, Johnson is archetypically stoic, if a little wooden. It is fair to say that it is dated, but still watchable, and the formula is true to what still makes a reasonable movie today. Emphasis is rightly on the characters and there are sufficient character subplots to keep us interested, though a little more development wouldn't have gone astray.

I made the fatal mistake of viewing this with expectations set high. Having eagerly anticipated viewing this one for some time, I finally managed to watch this - granted on video.

In summary it was a disappointment. The wacky character and situation ingredients all seemed to be there, but it just didn't come together. The laughs rely too much on a slapstick formula, which for me was handled a little clumsily, and without smooth comedy the plot was too thin and predictable to carry it.

If you're going to watch this one, and don't say don't watch it, expect little more than simple fun and you'll probably be okay.

The Potato Factory is definitely true in style if not completely in content to the novel.

It gives the typical Courtenay piecemeal character development, in stuttered episodic fashion, telling the same old story, with slight variations on locations, period characters etc. As I said, if you're a fan of Courtenay's work, you'll will no doubt love it.

For me, I wish I watched the Graham Kennedy special which aired on the same night. 4 out of 10.