Dir.
Robert Heath, UK, 2005, 103 mins
Cast: Henry Goodman, Julianne White, Neil Stuke
A fun mixture of satire and farce, starring Henry Goodman as television celebrity chef Felix, who is about to get the chop. In the middle of an dinner party for his media cronies, two bungling would-be bank robbers, who have got the wrong house, burst in and hold the party hostage - a situation which is then manipulated by Felix into an ongoing hostage drama with full news coverage, which he hopes will save his career. And while the hostage situation is milked for all it is worth by the media with a little help from Felix and his agent, inside the house the situation develops into a bizarre house party and a game of changing partners.
Goodman's study of vanity and self obsession holds the film together. There are some good gags and some brightly drawn supporting characters, who include Neil Stuke bringing a touch of humanity to the proceedings as the burglar, who falls for Felix's neglected wife (Julianne White). The satire on self serving television and news media types is sharp and funny. Bob McCabe and Rob Churchill who wrote the screenplay have written for various television sketch shows and their knowledge of the media world stands them in good stead.
The farcical element is less successful, and sometimes lapses into crudity. But the film is inventive and refreshingly unpredictable, while Felix's exotic dishes really do look good enough to eat. I was starving by the end of the film.
Carol Allen
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