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Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa is like a gift that keeps on giving.
I was very sceptical that if an Alan Partridge movie was made – after all this time the character has been around – it would never live up to the his TV appearances, particularly the first series of I’m Alan Partridge (as I was quite disappointed with the second, which suffered largely from a poor script but also from some very bad ‘elderly’ make-up applied to Coogan). Thankfully, he looks back to his more youthful self, even though the character is now aged 55. You could wonder at first if they’ve gone back in time a little for this movie, but a reference to living in a caravan, as well as the fact we know North Norfolk Digital is his latest job – given his “Mid-Morning Matters” Youtube short films – points that this is not the case.
However, I am pleased to report that not only does this film make you laugh loudly, it also does it consistently. And for any film in 2013 to be considered consistent is another plus, given the number of over-long movies we’ve seen released this year, many of which were over two hours long and could easily have had a good 45 minutes, at least, snipped out of them – Django Unchained being the main offender.
A particular case of cracking up came when the theme from Ski Sunday was played. I so wish this had been allowed to be heard in full as the accompanying visuals are expertly handled and I would’ve lapped up so much more. There’s also a rather silly moment where Alan’s trousers come off, but it’s handled so well it could actually be believeable.
Alan Partridge sings Roachford’s Cuddly Toy
which appears as the opening credits in the film.
There’s even a decent story which gives Alan Partridge a reason to be on the big screen: North Norfolk Digital is being taken over by Gourdale Media, headed up by Jason Tresswell (Nigel Lindsay), and has had its name changed to “Shape – the way you want it to be”, basically killing the original station and replacing it with homogonised disposable pop 24/7. This reminded me, particuarly, when a wonderful station in Stockport, KFM Radio, which ran in the late 80s and its DJs included Craig Cash and Caroline Aherne, was changed to Signal Cheshire in September 1990, meaning they changed overnight from the best indie music in the North West… to Kylie & Jason. It was as welcome as a kick in the balls with a rusty razor.
Anyway, as a result of the takeover, long-standing DJ – but a dinosaur in the modern era – Pat Farrell (Colm Meany) is getting the boot and exacts his revenge by holding everyone hostage during a party at the station to celebrate the new beginning. Well, everyone except Alan who’s just nipped outside to talk to Lynn. An additional side plot is also added in a possible romance between Alan and fellow DJ Angela (Monica Dolan).
At this point I’d start to go into detail about how good or bad the cast are, but… this is Alan Partridge. Everyone’s exactly as they need to be to give a piece of top-rate entertainment.
Go to page 2 for more thoughts on the film.
Alan Partridge attends the police briefing.
When it comes to the certificate, the 15 stops young children from seeing it. However, my view is that yes, it’s got enough f-words to give it a 15, although a 12 only allows a maximum of 4, but in terms of letting younger people see it, there’s no real violence in it and any sexual references would go over the heads of very young children, a bit like when the same thing happens in the Simpsons. Besides, I was 12 when I saw my first 15-cert film in a cinema anyway. And when it comes to Alan Partridge, children under 15 who are familiar with the character will want to see this and won’t be scarred by anything in it.
A 15-cert can pack a lot more in than it used to. For example, the first two Die Hard films have been re-rated 15 when Fox wanted to put them out in the cinema again – when both were previously an 18 in their uncut form, although the first one is the only one that’s been an 18 in the cinema AND the only one which was released uncut in the cinema. And the third one has long since had all its cuts restored. But I digress.
Alan Partridge – “I am Siege Face”.
The 2.35:1 frame initially took a bit of getting used to, especially for a programme which has been seen in either 4:3 or 16:9, but while this occasionally lends itself to some odd camera angles, I can see they wanted to have a different look whilst retaining the same Norfolk location. I’m pleased to report that the picture, in 1080p high definition, is crisp and issue-free, bringing the comedy to the screen perfectly.
And it’s a must to see Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa more than once as there are so many gags in it that I’ll have missed some first time round, and apparently there is a single case of someone says “Ah-aaah!”, his famous catchprase – but not uttered by him here. I missed that, though. The writers have clearly spent a long time perfecting the script, taking out everything unnecessary to the point where you have a tight 90 minutes that doesn’t drag at all, and even extends into the credits.
Watching this film, I’d like to think that, seeing Tim Key with a gun regularly pointed to his head is payback for inflicting those piss-poor poems on us during Charlie Brooker’s TV shows.
And when I saw this at the Trafford Centre and got in my car, Smooth FM were playing ABBA’s Knowing Me Knowing You, while shortly afterwards, I switched to XFM and heard Hurt by Johnny Cash, referred to in the film as ‘King of the Jews’, the reason for which you’ll find out when you watch it.
Go to page 3 for the extras.
Alan Partridge’s guide to cinema etiquette.
The sound is in 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio. Naturally, a comedy isn’t exactly a special effects-fest, but the dialogue is clear throughout.
There are only a few extras, but they’re all in HD:
- Hectic Danger Days: The Making of Alpha Papa (34:25): An engaging ‘making of’ featuring chat from director Declan Lowney, producer Kevin Loader, writers Neil and Rob Gibbons, plus Armando Iannucci, Peter Baynham, Steve Coogan and all the key cast members.
They talk about bringing the character back in a low-key way with Mid-Morning Matters before eventually going on to do the film, at which point it’s amusing when Lowney mentions how long the film has been listed on IMDB as being ‘in developement’.
There’s also plenty of on-set filming, all leading up to the premiere at Leicester Square.
- Deleted Scenes (27:03): There are 21 deleted scenes here. These include an alternative opening scene, and while I prefer the one we got in the film itself, I would include “Alan arrives at party” at the radio station, and possibly the alternate ending.
As for the others, there’s a few extended scenes in there, too, but besides that I think a lot of them work better as extras than included in the main feature.
- Bloopers (4:30): Gaffes aplenty.
- Audio description: Describes the film from start to finish. A lot of TV shows have this also, these days.
- Audio commentary: featuring Steve Coogan with Neil & Rob Gibbons.
The menu is an odd affair that’s trying to be too clever. Each option takes you to a different menu, which makes the player pause while it loads that screen up. Want to go back a step? Yes, it pauses again while it loads up the first menu. This is all set against a subtly-animated Alan in his studio.
There are subtitles in English, but when it comes to the chaptering, I feel one should come every five minutes on average. Studiocanal, like many other distributors, go for a low 12 however long the film. I would like them to increase this number.
Once again, Studiocanal put trailers and adverts before the main menu. These should go in the extras section. This disc has 3 trailers for other films, including one which came out ages ago! What are they? Not saying. Gah, I hate this practice! We are not in the age of rental video.
Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa is out now on Blu-ray, DVD and Limited Edition Steelbook Blu-ray.
Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa – Theatrical Trailer
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FILM CONTENT PICTURE QUALITY SOUND QUALITY EXTRAS |
10 10 7 4 |
| OVERALL | 8 |
Cert: 
Running time: 90 minutes
Cat.no: OPTBD2512
Year: 2013
Released: December 2nd 2013
Chapters: 12
Picture: 1080p High Definition
Sound: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1
Languages: English
Subtitles: English
Widescreen: 2.35:1 (Red Epic)
Disc Format: BD50
Director: Declan Lowney
Producers: Kevin Loader and Henry Normal
Screenplay: Peter Baynham, Steve Coogan, Neil Gibbons, Rob Gibbons and Armando Iannucci
Cast:
Alan Partridge: Steve Coogan
Pat Farrell: Colm Meaney
Firearms Officer: Sean Pertwee
Police Officer: Anna Maxwell Martin
Angela: Monica Dolan
Police Officer: Darren Boyd
Lynn Benfield: Felicity Montagu
Michael: Simon Greenall
Jason Tresswell: Nigel Lindsay
Dave Clifton: Phil Cornwell
Simon: Tim Key
Police Officer: Jaspal Badwell
Don: Simon Delaney
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.