Since Neil and Rob Gibbons came on the scene, the character
has been revitalised since his original output in Knowing Me Knowing You and
the first two series of I’m Alan Partridge. The Gibbons’ were driving forces
behind some new programmes in the run-up to Alpha Papa’s release, namely, Mid
Morning Matters (Alan’s constantly referenced radio show on North Norfolk
Digital) and two one-off features, one a travel show revealing Norwich’s
highlights, Welcome to the Places of My Life, and the other an Open Books
episode interviewing Alan and hearing excerpts from his book. On top of this TV
work, Partridge has also had a book, I, Partridge: We Need to Talk About Alan
and the accompanying audiobook. In short, a small (and warranted) franchise has
been built around this try-hard disc jockey – a movie was always on the cards.
The beauty of the character is that he needn’t have any kind
of lofty treatment or diverse scenario to showcase his comedy talent, Alan
actually works best in the most simple of situations – walking down a dual
carriageway singing Goldfinger being a personal favourite. Therefore, it could
have been that Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa was an elongated episode of one of his TV outings, it
would have been hilarious no matter the plot, and part of me (and I’m sure
other fans share this outlook) wanted just that: a 100 minute episode of I’m Alan
Partridge. Instead, the writers (five of them!) decided to take a loftier
concept, and go for a hostage crisis drama – it’s been dubbed ‘Alan Partridge
does Die Hard’. The plot sees Alan take centre stage when one of his
ex-colleagues, Pat (the excellent Colm Meaney), takes the radio station hostage
following his dismissal and nominates Alan as mouthpiece for negotiations. In
his element, Alan thrives as the face of the crisis, “I am siege face”, and
finds himself in increasingly hilarious scenarios, finally climaxing in a chase
along Cromer Pier. It’s a nose-dive into Alan’s world, and Duncan Lowney and
crew have perfectly captured Alan’s surroundings, even delivering a great spin
on the ‘cops and robbers car chase’ which gets to showcase Norwich’s offerings.
And not only do we get to finally witness the settings of his life, but we also
recognise some familiar faces in the form of Lynn, Dave Clifton, Geordie accomplice
Michael, and relative newbie Sidekick Simon. Each have something to get their
teeth into, with Felicity Montagu as Lynn delivering the ultimate return to
form.
Although there are a few moments where the comedy is
predictable and falls flat, Alpha Papa delivers exactly what it promised: to
bring Alan to the big screen in force. The trailer, which featured Alan discussing the possible names for the film with some producers was a pitch-perfect example of how to whet the appetite - fans all over the web were splitting sides at his suggestions of Colossal Velocity, The Norfolk Fracture, or more prescient, Chap of Steel. The anticipation to see this complete idiot in a high-concept thriller (well, almost), was just too enticing. We’ve never seen Alan in such a tense
situation (perhaps the closest being when he’s stuck at psycho-fan Jed’s
house), and Coogan’s delivery of the character under such circumstances is pure
comedy gold – with moments of absolute Partridge-perfection (one scene sees him
try and climb through a small window with bellyaching results!). The film is the cherry on top of a lustrous career
for Alan Partridge, and certainly ties the franchise with a neat red bow, but no
matter what they come up with now, they’d be hard pushed to beat those first
series (who wouldn’t be?) which so many hold up as sacred in the annals of British
comedy. Hopefully the Gibbon's will start work on some of Alan's own suggestions: A Partridge Amongst the Pigeons anyone? [4/5]
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