“The Parole Officer” DVD Review
March 13, 2007 – 4:27 pm | by PeekaySteve Coogan’s first feature film, written by himself and long-time collaborator Henry Normal, is ultimately a disappointing affair.
It’s difficult enough to see Coogan as anything other than his master creation Alan Partridge, but when he begins by giving Simon Garden some similar characteristics and mannerisms it is pretty much impossible.
Garden is the failed Parole Officer moved to Manchester to get him away from his current office where he is roundly hated. This transfer ends up with him witnessing a murder, being framed for it and having to enlist the help of some of his former clients in order to clear his name.
Chuck in an unlikely romance and some hi-jinks at the end as they attempt to break into a bank, and you’ve got a fairly run-of-the-mill british film.
Until the last third there are very few laughs, but when the action of breaking into the bank begins the quality turns up a notch. If only the rest of the film was as good.
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