Mr. Jolly Lives Next Door (5 Mar. 1988)

A couple of bored escorts find themselves suddenly involved with a hit-gang and an ax-murderer - Mr. Jolly. Gratuitous violence, rivers of blood and maximum hilarity, all rolled into one.

Director:

Stephen Frears

Writers:

Rik Mayall, Adrian Edmondson,

Stars:

Rik Mayall, Adrian Edmondson, Peter Cook

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Rik Mayall	...	Dreamy Time Escort
Adrian Edmondson	...	Dreamy Time Escort
Peter Cook	...	Mr. Jolly
Peter Richardson	...	Mr. Lovebucket
Nicholas Parsons	...	Himself
Jennifer Saunders	...	Monica
Dawn French	...	Mrs. Cooper
Michael Cule	...	Mr. Cooper
Basil Ho Yen	...	Mr. Yakimoto
Thomas Wheatley	...	Heimi Henderson
Gordon Kane	...	Reg
Gerard Kelly	...	Hilary
Granville Saxton	...	Ron
Bazil Otoin	...	Norman (as Basil Otoin)
Philip Locke	...	Sir Larry

Storyline

The alcoholic owners of Dreamytime Escorts are approached by hit-man Mr Jolly,to 'take out' radio quiz host Nicholas Parsons. Parsons is due to open an off-licence owned by Heimie Henderson but Henderson has fallen foul of gangster Lovebucket who hopes to stop the opening by killing the star. The two escorts misinterpret the instruction to kill Mr Parsons and,instead,take him out for a night of drinking,using the blood money they were given. Next day,having failed in their task, they are forced to admit their mistake to Mr Jolly.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 March 1988 (UK)

Filming Locations:

Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

52 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Quotes

Policeman: Are you drunk, sir?
Dreamytime Escort: Of course I am, I'm out of my bloody mind, I've just spent three thousand quid in there.

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Soundtracks

"It's Not Unusual"
(uncredited)

User Reviews

A hliarious vomit drenched tale of comic misunderstandings and mistaken identities

I must confess that I'm something of a fan of some of Ade Edmonson and Rik Mayall's work and It's fair to say that their brand of anarchic humour that has become more identifiable with such television sitcoms as 'Bottom' and the earlier and even more anarchic 80's comedy series that was 'The Young One's'. So it comes as little or no surprise that 'Mr. Jolly Lives Next door'. One of the few scripts they worked together on for 'The Comic Strip Presents...' series of short films Isn't that far removed from those other televisual works.

Co-written with Roland Rivron(One half of the spoof lounge act 'Raw Sex' who regularly featured with French and Saunders back in the late 80's and early 90's)'Mr. Jolly Lives Next Door' probably stands alone amongst most of the 'Comic Strips Present...' short movies. Not because of It's anarchic humour which was 'The Comic Strip Presents...' team's most notable hallmark. But that while these series of condensed movies were by turns subtle and not so subtle and usually tried to make some comment on society, politics or the media in general. Mayal, Edmondson and Rivron just try to create a ball's out, gross out comedy with no pretencions what so ever. And oddly enough It's one of It's greatest strength's. It's your average tale of comic misunderstandings and mistaken identities that can only be told in Mayall and Edmondson's own vomit drenched style. Anyone looking for subtlety and something more high brow would do best to stay clear. I personally like nothing more than a good intelligent comedy. But every now and again It's great to watch something that just tries to be funny and you can just sit back and laugh at without having to engage your brain. And Mayall, Edmondson and Rivron accomplish this magnificently.

'Mr Jolly Lives Next Door' tells the story of two delinquent, drunken, lay about losers (played by both Mayall and Edmondson) who run their own little escort agency from their little office in a grimy, flea ridden apartment building. The very fact that when the movie opens the pair of them are visiting a Morgue where a previous client now lies deceased gives you some indication of how good the pair of reprobates are at their job. Right next door to where the two dregs of society run their business(and presumably live) is Mr. Jolly played here by veteran comedy actor Peter Cook. A vile socio-pathic hit-man who likes to batter his clients victims to death while a record of Tom Jone's performing "It's Not Unusual" plays throughout his office. Black Isn't it? Unfortunately for the two escorts(who's name's we never learn) a telegram intended for Mr. Jolly is sent to them by mistake and upon reading that they've to "take out" actor Nicolas Parsons(who actually feature as himself quite prominently). The pair obviously take the message out of context, believing that they've to take the poor, unsuspecting sod out for a good time.

What follows is one hilarious scenario as the duo drive poor Parsons around the bend while eventually being found by the the dangerously unbalanced Mr. Lovebucket(played with wonderful silky voiced menace by 'Comic Strip' founder Peter Richardson}, the man responsible for wanting Parsons dead. Finally realising they've both been mistaken for other people. The two fools then make a complete mess of attempting to kill Parson's. As they potentially share the same fate as their intended target if they don't complete the objective.

There's actually more to the film than I'm letting on and to tell you even more would be to spoil much of what make's 'Mr. Jolly Lives Next Door' a complete riot. Edmondosn and Mayall are endlessly hilarious. Throwing themselves in their roles with the crazed enthusiasm you'd have come to expect from the comedy pairing. You can see that they're thoroughly enjoying themselves here as was the same with "Bottom" for instance. And while their characters are similar to both Richie Richard and Eddie . They are still work as indivduals and actually make the anti-hero's of the latter sitcom look positively refined by comparison. If you had ever thought that even possible.Some of the comic scenario's although possibly not entirely original are still never the less gut achingly funny while there's the odd moment of inspired bit of lunacy that you can't help but applaud. One moment that stands out being the pairs attempts to grab a case of alcoholic beer from outside a beer van that's pulled outside their apartment. Doesn't sound that interesting? Wait and actually see how they try to accomplish it and you may see what I mean.

But like I previously pointed out 'Mr. Jolly Lives Next Door' won't be to everyone's taste. And those more use to the more subtle, thoughtful, satirical humour of the 'Comic Strip Presents...' may not like it. But if you like your humour to ocassionly be low brow then you might like this. And while the humour does verge on getting a bit too stupid on occasion there's still enough gut aching moments to compensate for them. All in a all for those who might appreciate It's vile humour. 'Mr. Jolly Lives Next Door' is a excrement encrusted gem.