The League of Gentlemen's Apocalypse Movie Review:


The League of Gentlemen bring their warped characters to the big screen in this seriously unhinged movie. And while it's often hilarious, the film is also self-indulgent and not nearly as inventive as it clearly thinks it is.

The residents of the in-grown town of Royston Vasey have a problem: the end of their world is approaching because their creators (Gatiss, Pemberton, Shearsmith and Sheen, playing Dyson) have stopped writing about them. So three of the townsfolk--mad butcher Hilary Briss (Gatiss), suggestive German Herr Lipp (Pemberton) and annoyed businessman Geoff Tipps (Shearsmith)--head through a portal to confront the League in their London office. But to save Royston Vasey, they must also cope with characters from the writers' new project, a 17th century demonic thriller.

Sounds complicated, but it's not too difficult to follow; it plays like a wacky time-travel romp between parallel universes. And while the plot is deeply self-absorbed, the dialog is extremely clever, with humour that combines astute satire, outrageous puns, gallows wit and out-of-control absurdity. It's Monty Python meets the Hammer House of Horror ... but with the storyline from that awful S Club movie.

Intriguingly, the film is probably more enjoyable for people (like me) who never got into the TV series, simply because the filmmakers focus on only three Royston Vasey residents, giving them involving character arcs. The best strand is Herr Lipp pretending to be Pemberton, getting a taste for life with his wife (Woof) and kids. But all of the characters are so well-realised that they really leap off the screen. And the starry cameos and side roles are extremely well-cast.

As it progresses, the film gets increasingly crazed, keeping us laughing through the sheer carnage. Effects become outrageous (including a Harryhausen-inspired climactic homunculus) as we head to the big face-off between people from the story's three realities, with fictional characters demanding that their creators write new scenes for them. There's the germ a strong idea here (see most of Charlie Kaufman's work), but the filmmakers are happy to just keep it deeply, gruesomely silly.



Rich Cline

As the inhabitants of Royston Vasey go about their daily business, storm clouds start to gather overhead. When Fire and brimstone cascades from the heavens they all gather at the church and Rev. Bernice Woodall (Shearsmith) reveals that this is foretold and they are witnessing an apocalypse. The prophecy also reveals an awful truth however. All of the residents of Royston Vasey are in fact fictional characters created by Mark Gatiss, Steve Pemberton, Reece Shearsmith and Jeremy Dyson and they have decided not to write any more stories about them condemning them to death. Their only option is to go the real world and talk them into continues their stories but mass murder Hilary Briss (Gatiss), useless businessman Geoff Tipps (Shearsmith) and German teacher Herr Lipp (Pemberton) are probably not the best people to send.

After a radio show, TV series and live shows, The League of Gentlemen moves to the big screen but can they be the next ‘Monty Python’? Not quite.

The dark comedy that made the radio and TV series such a cult hit would be very hard to transfer to the silver screen. Some may argue that the film would have a built in audience, which is true but the series was an acquired taste with people either adoring it (of which I am one of those people) or completely not getting it at all. It looks like Mark Gatiss, Steve Pemberton, Reece Shearsmith and Jeremy Dyson have taken this into consideration and delivered a movie that doesn’t quite have the same punch as its televisual counterpart as is tries to gain mass appeal.

In quite an inventive move, the writers have decided to bring their beloved characters into the real world. We all know that Royston Vasey is a fictional creation but this comes as news to the inhabitants of that very local village. When it seems that their village is on the verge of destruction, Rev. Bernice Woodall reveals that awful truth and reveals a portal to the real word in the catacombs of the church. Unfortunately the killer butcher of Royston Vasey and his two prisoners go through the door and take the key with them, as they attempt to evade the police. Now this is a great premise that opens up a huge possibility for dark comedic escapades but the film only delivers on very few occasions.

The thought of Herr Lipp impersonating Steve Pemberton and taking care of his children is both shocking and hilarious. Hilary Briss been let loose in the real world is a nightmare prospect only for him to discover there is more to life than meat and murder. Tubbs and Edward making a home visit to Jeremy Dyson’s house. Geoff Tipps making himself the hero instead of his usual cowardly self. These are all ideas that, in part, humanise the character as they realise they can be more than just how they were written. This makes the underlying message that we can be more than just a ‘pun’, quite a relevant one as it shows that even the most devilish characters can be more than what people expect them to be. This message throws a lightness into the film however that of its dark origins might find too bright.

As you would expect the performances from Mark Gatiss, Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith are as exceptional as ever. Each of them play their characters and themselves with great gusto, even portraying the real versions of themselves as slightly big headed, show business types with troubled marriages and nothing but their work that has pigeon holed them for ten years. Geoff Tipps, played by Reese Shearsmith, takes centre stage and has most of the best lines. The same can be said about Steve Pemberton’s Herr Lipp but Mark Gatiss doesn’t really get the chance to excel as Hilary Briss because the character just isn’t as evil as he was in the series. Apart from the performing side of the League, the film also has some great guest appearances. David Warner is excellent as the diabolical Dr. Pea, the 17th century devil worshipper who is part of the new work created by the League to replace Royston Vasey. Bernard Hill and Victoria Wood are funny as the King and Queen from that story. Also look out for two hilarious turns from two comedic stars in Dr. Pea’s lab. Michael Sheen is also good as the only member of the League who never appears on screen, Jeremy Dyson.

‘The League of Gentlemen’s Apocalypse’ is a funny movie for the average filmgoer but for fans of the cult series it is a slight disappointment. While the underlying message is good, the decision not to go with some of the more popular characters from the series may disappoint the legions of fans. Amusing throughout but really nothing more, fans will wish they had spent the money on a new TV series rather than a toned down version of beloved Royston Vasey characters.

(for fans)

(for everyone else)

Jamie Kelwick

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