In The Loop

Posted on April 15, 2009 at 10:08 am by lkeddie | Permalink

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Released 17th April 2009

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Imagine a pre-Iraq cross between Yes, Prime Minister, West Wing and The Office, but with a vicious, razor-sharp set of teeth - primarily, those of Malcolm Tucker (played by the brilliant Peter Capaldi) - and you get a vague impression of what’s on offer. But this exceptional satire needs to be seen to be fully appreciated in all its crudity and ministerial wretchedness. Totally unforgiving, with some of the foulest insults known to man, In The Loop is a deliciously devilish and twisted riot in the UK and US corridors of power that will not only have you howling with laughter throughout, memorising choice retorts for later victims, but make you feel as though you have witnessed something quite refreshingly different, as satire goes.

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It’s all down to the ingenious penmanship of The Thick of It and I’m Alan Partridge writer/director Armando Iannucci and writing team, as well as Iannucci’s healthy encouragement to his actors to indulge in some rather loose improv on set. The result is the set-up of one monumental c**k-up after another, as that infamous transatlantic communication problem between the UK and US, as well as the homegrown ministerial and constituent one sets in. We may all speak the same lingo (well, sort of), but the understanding often gets (conveniently) misconstrued, particularly in the political arena, which provides for oodles of scope for writers and comedians to newly thrill a politics-weary UK audience. It is also especially relevant and beneficial as a light-hearted, supposed fictional critique of those in power in these credit-crunch, ministerial ‘expense-munch’ times.

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All characters are perfectly cast, allowing Capaldi the chance to let off a stream of expletives on film this time, and David Rasche as Linton and the surprisingly humourous James Gandolfini as General Miller to bat them right back at the back of the proverbial net. Tom Hollander plays out-of-his-depth, foot-in-mouth English ministerial buffoon, Simon Foster, with exceptional ease, as does Chris Addison as his new advisor, Toby, who makes a series of grave errors in the first week of his new role that would result in immediate culling in any other industry. There are also some fabulously funny cameos, such as Steve Coogan as a feisty constituent with a garden wall problem who gives the Foster a local ear-bashing, whilst the beleaguered minister tries to undo the international carnage caused by his Iraq gaffe - after gaffe. It’s simply priceless comedy to watch!

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Without giving any more of the game away, actions speak louder than words, so DO believe the poster hype, and go and see this splendid piece of satire as soon as you possibly can, especially if the TV series The Thick of It is your cup of tea.

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By Lisa Keddie

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Synopsis

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A parody of the inner workings of U.S. and British government agencies and their international relations.

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Film Facts

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Official site: http://www.intheloopmovie.co.uk/

UK Release Date: 17th April 2009

Director: Armando Iannucci