The Likely Lads [1976]

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
Dating from 1976, The Likely Lads belongs to an often-reviled genre--the feature-length spin-off from the 1970s sitcom. However, these were often a great deal better than TV purists make them out to be. The Dad's Army film, for example, more than measures up to the original series, the first Steptoe and Son movie is as sublime as any 1960s kitchen sink drama and much funnier, while this incarnation of The Likely Lads reaches heights of hilarity not even scaled by the splendid sitcom from which it was derived.

Starring Rodney Bewes as Bob and James Bolam as Terry, this is an aimless but endlessly entertaining saga that takes in a calamitous caravan holiday in drizzly Northumbria, a farcical escapade in a seaside guest house and innumerable minor capers in between. The real business here, however, is in Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais' script and characterisation. Most of their best work involves men in confinement of some sort (Porridge, Auf Wiedersehen Pet) and here it's Bob who finds himself timidly chafing at the clutches of domestic "bliss" as personified by wife Thelma (played magnificently and underratedly by Brigit Forsyth, avoiding all the usual battleaxe clichés). He's jealous of the footloose Terry, even though the latter is clearly frustrated at his rootless existence ("I've learned nothing. Y'know what it'll say on my gravestone? "None the Bloody Wiser"!"). Beyond a mere nostalgia-fest, this is vintage, essential Brit-comedy.

On the DVD: The Likely Lads is presented in widescreen 1.78:1. Unfortunately, this comedic milestone comes only with the original trailer by way of extras. --David Stubbs

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2008-01-08 rating:
"If Omar Sharif lived in Gateshead I doubt if he'd be Omar Sharif"
Unlike many of the TV series that produced a spin off film this one is actually funny and well worth viewing more than once.

Bob is having a mid life crisis so wife Thelma suggests that they go away for a caravanning weekend to Northumberland - caravans being a well known cure for most of life's troubles apparently - together with Terry and his current Finnish girlfriend Chris.

Needless to say it's a catalogue of mishaps. Bob's marriage is in trouble resulting in him moving in with Terry who has been dumped and is back to his usual "sensitive" self. As with all 70's films the fashions are well worth a chuckle - Thelma sports a particularly fetching purple "fondu party" type dress which is borderline offensive.

There are some fantastic lines including one of my all time film favourites:
Terry to Bob who has just poured out his heart about feeling his life is falling apart - "do you want some coffee, I'd offer you a beer but I've only got 6"

You can't beat a bit of North Eastern humour!

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review by: date: 2007-10-06 rating:
Enjoyable, nostalgic fun
I agree with the previous reviewer. This is an enjoyable, occasionally hilarious, film that will appeal most to those from the North East. It is nostalgically pleasant and enjoyable fun. That it was the last outing for Terry, Bob and Thelma adds to the poignancy and makes it a must for any Likely Lads fan. It is every bit as good as the series and, in fact, is rather like two episodes and a couple of odd scenes tacked together. Breath a fond sigh for a world that has now passed.

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review by: A Likely Lad date: 2007-02-05 rating:
A Nice Warm, Cosy Little Film To Mark The End Of An Era.
The Likely Lads film arises from the 1970's practice of adapting popular sitcoms of the day into movies, a very dangerous thing to do for the fans of those particular shows.

The success of half hour sitcoms on television does not necessarily transfer well to film, the movie world is littered with many such failures, fortunately The Likely Lads is one of the better efforts.

It could be a coincidence that my three favourite sitcom -into- film adaptations, The Likely Lads, Porridge and Steptoe and Son Ride Again are all written by their original creators/writers, maybe that's what puts them above the rest.

The Likely Lads film isn't perfect however, it's a little unstructured and it seems to run out of steam about the 70 minute mark and a new plotline is somewhat clumsily tacked on to pad the film out a bit, also no attempt has been made to match the locations and sets to the television series to create the feeling of continuation, but then this is nothing new in feature adaptations.

The film has many good points however such as the always brilliant performances of Rodney Bewes, James Bolam and Brigit Forsyth, the directing is very good and the feeling of nostalgia for the 1970's is everpresent, and of course it marked the end of an era in that it was the last ever instalment of the Likely Lads to be filmed, so is quite historic in that respect. In short it is a warm, cosy little film perfect for those cold drizzly winter nights and for those of us that have 86 minutes to kill, really rather nice in fact.

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review by: date: 2006-08-16 rating:
OK, but not up to the stadard of the TV series
Whatever Happened to The Likely Lads? is a classic TV series. I bought this film as it is the equivalent of three further episodes as well as being Terry and Bob's final appearance. Unfortunately, it doesn't work quite so well as any of the TV episodes. A lot of the jokes are recycled from the series (and writers Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais' other works) and the story feels a bit directionless. Personally, I think Clement and La Frenais learnt a lot from this picture though. A few years later they made probably the best ever TV sitcom to movie transfer with the Porridge film- which actually has an effective plot to provide it's humour. The Likely Lads film is interesting to see what finally became of the lads. There are a some great moments- Terry announcing "The end is nigh, Ferris!" and "Not my fault" on the megaphone, Bob and Thelma's last very public row, Terry getting hit by the vase thrown from his flat window and the cinema format allowed more classic comedy swearing than the BBC would have. As I say though, the whole thing just seems kind of forced and aimless. But it's still worth seeing for completists and- like all of the writers' work- is valuable as a great document of British social history. Interestingly, they again end with someone leaving the country for an uncertain future- just as in the original '60's Likely Lads series, the first ending of Auf Wiedersehen Pet and the ending of the recent Auf Pet revival. For the best of Terry Collier and Bob Ferris though, get the "Whatever Happened To" series on DVD.



review by: bohemiansir date: 2006-01-17 rating:
classic
a great piece of nostalgis. great performances and a good script. got a great feel to it and really takes you back to that other time, that we remember with affection

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Similar products

The The Likely Lads Collection (6 Disc BBC Box Set)
Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads - Series 2 [2006]
Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads - Series 1
The Likely Lads: Surviving Episodes From BBC Series 1-3
On The Buses/Mutiny On The Buses/Holiday On The Buses [1971]

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Video . DVD & VHS . Categories . Comedy . All Comedy
Video . DVD & VHS . Substores . Regular Stores . DVD Bargains . By Price . From £4.97 . DVDs from £4.97
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Format (binding_browse-bin) . DVD
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . BBFC Rating (intended_use_browse-bin) . PG
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Editions (feature_two_browse-bin) . Standard Edition
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Region(feature_browse-bin) . Region 2
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Release Date (feature_three_browse-bin) . 1970 - 1979
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Language (theme_browse-bin) . English

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