I am in the unusual position of having never actually watched the series, but I did see the previous movie. And from my perspective, these are four of the biggest idiots to ever come from our shores. Neil is Too Dumb To Live, Jay is a sex obsessed loser, Simon is a walking doormat and Will might be smart academically, but in social situations is a total liability.
In Ibiza, they made complete fools of themselves, before everything came together for the ubiquitous Happy Ending. Here, Down Under, amongst all the usual Aussie stereotypes, things go even worse. And they don't really improve. Ever. As for the final scenes, well let me just say that the combined effect of the abruptness and the pessimism of them made me somewhat annoyed that this, according to the creators, is the last we'll see of these lovable misfits. Way to close the cycle, guys.
The Inbetweeners is primarily a comedy of embarrassment... and boy, do we have some doozies here. As a demonstration of the movie's ambition to ramp up every awkward moment into a full blown trauma causing humiliation, the bit at the water park would be a good place to start. To begin with: Neil s**ts himself at the top of the slide. This would perhaps be enough for most films, but in TI2 they don't understand the meaning of the word 'excess'. Not only does a piece of the offending fecal matter find it's way down the flume, it also end's up in poor old Will's face at the bottom... who then proceeds to spray sick EVERYWHERE like a sprinkler, forcing an evacuation of the pool. AND in front The Girl Of His Dreams.
We laugh, but we feel guilty for laughing. We LIKE these lads and want them to succeed... even as they fail miserably at every endeavour... and bring a lot of their problems on themselves. They never get a break... which I suppose it the point, as the script wouldn't be half as hilarious as it is if our quintet didn't keep putting their collective foot in it.
I think I slightly prefer the first one, which had a more cohesive plot (this felt more like a collection of sketches) and several Bigger Laughs. But the two complement each other well, and when watched together could provide a raucous evening of entertainment. I'd like to say it provided a fitting send-off.... but, nope. More, please..... and TRY to be slightly kinder to them this time......? 7/10
In Ibiza, they made complete fools of themselves, before everything came together for the ubiquitous Happy Ending. Here, Down Under, amongst all the usual Aussie stereotypes, things go even worse. And they don't really improve. Ever. As for the final scenes, well let me just say that the combined effect of the abruptness and the pessimism of them made me somewhat annoyed that this, according to the creators, is the last we'll see of these lovable misfits. Way to close the cycle, guys.
The Inbetweeners is primarily a comedy of embarrassment... and boy, do we have some doozies here. As a demonstration of the movie's ambition to ramp up every awkward moment into a full blown trauma causing humiliation, the bit at the water park would be a good place to start. To begin with: Neil s**ts himself at the top of the slide. This would perhaps be enough for most films, but in TI2 they don't understand the meaning of the word 'excess'. Not only does a piece of the offending fecal matter find it's way down the flume, it also end's up in poor old Will's face at the bottom... who then proceeds to spray sick EVERYWHERE like a sprinkler, forcing an evacuation of the pool. AND in front The Girl Of His Dreams.
We laugh, but we feel guilty for laughing. We LIKE these lads and want them to succeed... even as they fail miserably at every endeavour... and bring a lot of their problems on themselves. They never get a break... which I suppose it the point, as the script wouldn't be half as hilarious as it is if our quintet didn't keep putting their collective foot in it.
I think I slightly prefer the first one, which had a more cohesive plot (this felt more like a collection of sketches) and several Bigger Laughs. But the two complement each other well, and when watched together could provide a raucous evening of entertainment. I'd like to say it provided a fitting send-off.... but, nope. More, please..... and TRY to be slightly kinder to them this time......? 7/10