In the Loop
Director: Armando Iannucci
Cast: Tom Hollander, Peter Capaldi, Chris Addison, Mimi Kennedy, Anna Chlumskey and James Gandolfini
Releasing in cinemas: 14 January 2010
Rated: MA 15+
Loopy British farce hits the funny bone
Bursting with raw
energy, this BBC-produced film is a bout of the kind of inspired lunacy
which infects many British TV comedies, and here seems to have its precursors
in The Office and Yes Minister. It’s a hilarious
farce and while dialogue-driven, there’s so many quick-fire verbal
gags may you miss a few through audience laughter - and my audience was
composed of case-hardened film critics.
The U.S. President
and the British Prime Minister think it’s time to have another lovely
war. Of course, not everyone agrees this would be at all desirable. Mild
mannered muddler Simon Foster (Tom Hollander), the British Secretary of
State for International Development is against war, but in a TV interview
fumbles a question and appears to support the case for conflict. This
incurs him the wrath of the Prime Minister’s chief spin doctor,
the cantankerous and cursing Malcolm Tucker (Peter Capaldi) an apoplectic
Scot. Yet, after his gaffe on TV, Simon has gained a lot friends in Washington.
Simon sets off with his new International Affairs advisor Toby (Chris
Addison) to visit the American capital, hoping to actually gain support
for opposing the war.
An unlikely ally turns up in pacifist US General Miller (James Gandolfini)
who wants no part of any war. Unfortunately the near-demented Tucker is
trying to rig the vote for war at the UN; while at home Simon’s
beleaguered Director of Communications Judy (Gina McKee) whom nobody likes,
has a battle of another kind with a disgruntled constituent (Steve Coogan)
and a collapsed wall. Add to all the confusion and political intrigue
Toby’s one night’s stand with pretty intern Lisa (Anna Chlumsky)
and a ‘secret’ war committee meeting which everyone knows
about. It’s total political mayhem.
Scenery-munching Peter Capaldi just about steals the show although the
whole cast is well matched in the comic department. Why are obscenities
shouted in a broad Scottish accent by Capaldi so damn funny? The film
is littered with Capaldi's one liners like ‘A Nazi Julie Andrews’;
and includes his amusing verbal attack on poor Judy as the creatively
profane Tucker thinks she’s being pedantic.
That big guy with the snuffle from The Sopranos, James Gandolfini,
shows a distinct flair for comedy with superb timing as a reluctant American
General.
Tom Hollander (Valkyrie) is equally hilarious as the befuddled
Minister trying to patch up his gaffes and only getting deeper in the
political quagmire. Gina McKee (Atonement) and Anna Chlumsky
keep up the female side of the fun with neat tongue-in-cheek performances;
and not forgetting the delightfully droll character of Mimi Kennedy as
Karen Clarke, the scheming American Assistant Secretary.
Co-writer/director Armando Iannucci considers In the Loop an
offshoot to his successful BBC TV series In The Thick of It.
His team of Capaldi, Addison and producer Adam Tandy were colleagues on
that show. Their skills are apparent in the sharply focused and frantically
paced script with bursts of quick-fire jokes. It seldom falters, and Iannucci
makes the most of the zany political humour with sinister implications.
The film is shot in typical news documentary style, each scene filmed
with hand held cameras allowing a degree of improvisation. I’m not
endeared to rocky hand held shots in cinema release films, but it actually
supports the frenetic action in this case with the immediacy of rough
and tumble news reportage. No doubt budget constrictions were also an
influence, although you’ll probably be too busy laughing to notice.
In the Loop abounds in riotous moments underlying a more sophisticated
and sober message for our times. The trailer is a deft piece of editing
and as funny as the film itself. It alone should encourage you to make
the effort and see the picture. It’s a marvellous way to start the
cinema year with a laugh.
John Bale